1S91-92]. ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT. 61 



Spinus tristis. — The American Goldfinch is certainly the most inter- 

 esting and handsomest bird I have ever kept, displaying a good deal of 

 affection and being always lively. They are, however, hard to keep in 

 the fall, being subject to the same decline as the Redpoll; both the spring 

 and fall changes in plumage take place by moulting. They will feed on 

 almost any seed, but are partial to sunflower and hemp, and will occasion- 

 ally catch flies and beetles. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys. — White-crowned Sparrow. The Sparrows 

 as a class are almost alike in their feeding habits, and if one species is 

 secured and watched there is no difficulty in relating the habits of nearly 

 every species. They spend their time on the ground, and are constantly 

 scratching. Of course as regards sociableness, there is considerable 

 difference between some of them. The White-crowned are, however, 

 very quiet inoffensive birds among other species : how they may be with 

 their own species I have yet to learn. They feed on the ground, on the 

 seed thrown out of the box by the others. I secured one specimen of 

 this bird in the beginning of October, and had him about three weeks 

 when he was killed by the female Evening Grosbeak. 



Zonotrichia albicollis. — White Throated Sparrow. This species lives 

 well in confinement, and often utters his peculiar song, especially after 

 gaining a victory over some of the other birds in the aviary ; they seem 

 to regard it as their especial mission to harass and annoy the other birds, 

 and after a successful combat the male will mount to the topmost perch, 

 and with wings and tail drooped and beak pointing upwards, will pour out 

 his mournful " Old Tom Peabody," as if it was to be the last sound he 

 would ever utter. In a cage they spend a large portion of their time 

 on the ground, scratching over the loose seed. 



Junco hyemalis- — In some respects the Juncos' habits are the same 

 as the Sparrows', being often on the ground ; they are more sociable and 

 very timid, seldom showing themselves while they are watched, and on 

 the slightest disturbance they hide in a corner or against the tree, and 

 will not show themselves till everything is quiet, when they will hop out 

 suddenly and chirp away as pleasantly as if they were in the bush. On 

 a bright warm day they mount about half way up the tree and sing out 

 their little ditty, which seems to put new life into the dullness of the 

 aviary and generally starts all the other birds singing. They eat very 

 little, and keep in good condition on the seed thrown about the ground 

 by the Sparrows. 



ospiza fasciata. — The Song Sparrow has the same habits as the 

 majority of sparrows but is rather more sociable and has some of the 



