FIELD BIRDS 103 



three of these birds the hind-toe is evidently not in- 

 tended for grasping, as it is with the Robin, and 

 doubtless for this reason they rarely perch in trees 

 or similar places. 



As we might surmise from its terrestrial habits, 

 and short, strong bill, the Snow Bunting is a seed- 

 eater. Dr. Judd, of the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture, found as many as 1,500 weed seeds in the 

 stomach of a single Snow Bunting. Like the Tree 

 Sparrows, therefore, this visitor from the far north 

 is not only a welcome, but a very useful guest. Un- 

 fortunately he is rarely found south of Pennsyl- 

 vania. What a harvest of seeds he would find in 

 the more southern states where the snowfall is too 

 light to hide the weed stalks ! 



Hoffman describes the notes of the Snow Bunting 

 as a "high, sweet, though slightly mournful 'tee or 

 tee-oo,' a sweet rolling whistle and a harsh 'bzz.' " 



Tree Sparrow 

 {Fig. 44) 



Early in October, some weeks before our familiar 

 Chipping Sparrow leaves for the south, a cousin of 

 his comes from the north to remain with us until 

 April. The two birds resemble each other in general 

 appearance, but the Tree Sparrow is somewhat 

 larger and heavier and in the center of his breast 



