CAROLINA JUNCO. 139 



creamy yellowish-white to greenish-white, marked with spots and blotches of a rusty or 

 reddish-brown "confluent around the larger portion of the egg, but rarely covering either 

 end." Average diameter .78 X .58 of an inch. 



In New England the Black Snowbird breeds in all the mountainous regions. Dr. 

 T. M. Brewer found it about Calais, Me., in all the islands of the Bay of Fundy, and 

 throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by far the most common and familiar 

 species, especially at Pictou, "where it abounded in the gardens, in repeated instances 

 coming within the outbuildings to build its nest." In a wood-shed connected with a 

 dwelHng Dr. Brewer's attention was called to the nests of several of these birds, built 

 within reach of the hand, and in places where the family were passing and repassing 

 throughout the day. They were usually called "Bluebirds" by the people. On his ride 

 from Halifax to Pictou, he found these birds breeding by the road-side, often under the 

 shelter of a projecting bank. Afterwards he found them nesting in similar situations 

 among the White Mountains, the road-sides seeming to be a favorite situation. 



During the breeding season the Snowbird inhabits North America from the United 

 States northward to Alaska and the Arctic regions. In winter it is common all over 

 the United States, except on the Pacific coast, where it is found sparingly. 



The Junco is an excellent cage bird, especially when kept together in an aviary in 

 small flocks. Nobody should keep birds in the cage who is not willing to care for them 

 conscientiously, and to supply all their wants, if possible. If tendei'ly cared for, the 

 Snowbird is an excellent cage pet, very happy, always smooth in plumage, and becoming 

 very tame. Its food in the cage consists of all kinds of grass seeds, especially millet 

 and Canary seed, and in summer it should have an additional supply of Mockingbird- 

 food and meal-worms. My cage pets were so tame that they- came on my hand and 

 perched on my head. 



NAMES: Slate-colored Junco, Junco, Snowbird, Black Snowbird, Slate-colored Snowbird, "White-bill," 

 Eastern Snowbird, Common Snowbird: — Winterfink (German). 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Fringilla hyemalis Linn. (1758). Stratbus hyemalis Bonap. (1838). Niphsea bye- 

 malis Aud. (1839). JUNCO HYEMALIS Sclat. (1857). Fringilla hadsonica Forster (1772). Frin- 

 gilla nivalis Wilson (1810). 



DESCRIPTION : Everywhere of a grayish or dark ashy-black, deepest anteriorly ; the middle of the breast 

 behind and on the belly, the under tail-coverts, and first and second external tail-feathers, white; the 

 third tail-feather, white, margined with black. Bill, pinkish-white. 



Length, 6.25 inches; wing about 3.00; tail, 2.74 inches. In winter washed with brownish. 

 Young streaked above and below. Female a little lighter. 



CAROLINA JUNCO. 



Junco hyemalis carolinensis Brewster. 



The Snowbird found in the southern Alleghanies differs in some respects from the 

 typical species. According to Prof Wm. Brewster, who discovered the bird May 28, 

 1885, at Highlands, N. C, this variety is larger, with lighter, bluer, and more uniform 

 coloration, and a horn-colored instead of a pinkish- white or yellowish bill. This new 

 and interesting form is common everywhere on the mountains south of West Virginia, 



