218 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 
is laid in New Hampshire about the first of June, a second 
often coming later. The eggs average °85 X ‘65.of. an inch, 
and are grayish-white, finely marked and clouded with a dark 
brown. Paler types also exist, resembling some eggs of the 
Song Sparrow. 
(c). The White-throated Sparrow is one of the largest, hand- 
somest, and most charmingly musical, of all the New England 
sparrows.71 These birds habitually pass the winter in that 
country which is so often indefinitely referred to as “the 
South ;” and I have heard of but one supposed instance of 
their remaining in Massachusetts throughout the winter, which 
instance came to my notice (from an insufficient authority) in 
the year 1874, when another specimen was reported from a 
town near Boston, in the latter part of July. The White- 
throated Sparrows usually come to that neighborhood, when 
on their way to their summer-homes, about the twentieth of 
April or a few days later, but in severe seasons not until May. 
During their stay here, which is commonly of between one and 
three weeks’ duration, they spend their time in stubble-fields, 
roadsides, cultivated estates, and like places (also rarely in 
swamps); associating somewhat with other finches, particu- 
larly with those who are migrating at the same time; generally 
7 Since I have begun this article with the use of the singular number, I will 
here quote an explanation of why, in ornithological writings, it has been objected 
to, in reference to birds. “It necessitates the general use of either the pronoun 
she (which is not customary, except in sometimes speaking of a bird of prey), or 
the pronoun he (which hardly generalizes to a sufficient extent one’s remarks when 
applied to a species, and which sometimes causes an unintentional apparent dis- 
tinction between the male and female or their habits), or the pronoun it, which is 
the worst of all. For to speak of animated birds as its and whiches, to any one 
who has studied them and regards them as friends, is as unpleasant as it would 
be to hear an acquaintance referred to by the neuter. By the use of the singular 
better expressions can sometimes be formed than by that of the plural, and the 
use of the pronouns he and she is sometimes effective or necessary, but, in general, 
the plural is preferable for obvious reasons. The following exaggerated examples 
require no explanation. ‘TheCrowis black. He builds his nest in pines, and lays 
four eggs in May.’ ‘The Robin is a common bird, and she is well known,” ‘The 
Goldfinch, which is abundant here, is resident throughout the year. It sings in 
May, and lays its eggs in June, etc” Though strictly incorrect, it is allowable by 
custom even to say:—‘they lay their eggs in June,’ but the plural sometimes is 
certainly undesirable.” 
