Finches, Sparrows, Etc. 



Fringillidas. 



INCHES, Sparrows, and like birds are distributed over all the 

 world. We find them, although in limited numbers, in the polar 

 regions, in greater abundance in the temperate zone and in the 

 tropics. They inhabit the shore of the ocean, the grassy, flower 

 adorned prairies, the borders of w^oodland, field and forest, 

 thickets and shrubbery; towns and cities, deserts where only 

 yuccas, cacti, and agaves flourish, and the high mountain ranges. During 

 their breeding time they usually live in pairs, but in the fall they unite 

 into flocks of larger and smaller numbers. When migration begins most 

 of them move southward in very large scattered companies. Most of our 

 Finches find the winter climate of our Southern States congenial, while 

 others pursue their journey more southward. Some of the species are per- 

 manent residents, that is, they live in one locality all the year round, like the Cai'dinal 

 Redbird, the Pine-wood Sparrow, etc. 



Late in the fall and in winter their food consists mostly of seeds of all kinds, 

 especially of those of noxious weeds, w^hile in spring and summer insects, their eggs and 

 larvae, form the main part of their diet. With the exception of that imported foreigner, 

 the European Sparrow, none of our Finches and Sparrows are injurious to vegetation. 

 On the contrary, most all of them are of great value to the husbandman. Many of 

 our Finches and Sparrows, and Buntings and Grosbeaks, and Purple Finches, etc., are 

 excellent songsters. The lay of the Song Sparrow, the sweet voice of the Rose-breasted 

 Grosbeak, the sprightly warble of the Painted Bunting and Indigo Bird, the loud resound- 

 ing song of the Cardinal, the metalHc note of the Towhee, the sweet love-song of the 

 Goldfinch, are familiar to every country child. The dress of most of the members of the 



