TEE HAWK EYE ORNITHOLOGIST AND OOLOGIST. 



CANADIAN SPAKPOWS. 



Family: Fringillidce. 



BY WM. L. KELLS. 



fHIS is the largest family of birds found 

 in North America and is represented 

 among the birds of Canada by over twenty 

 species. This family consists more espec- 

 ially of those species which in the Cuvier- 

 ian system of arrargement was known as the 

 Conirostres, on account on the general 

 cone-shaped form of the bill. In the gen- 

 eral form of the body, and many of the 

 habits, there is also much resemblance, tho' 

 there is much variation in size, plumage and 

 migratory movements. They all feed more 

 or less upon grain, various kinds of seeds, 

 buds and berries, and most of them also 

 feed largely on insects, especially when 

 their young require assistance. 



In this family are also included, besides 

 the sparrows proper, finches, grosbeaks, 

 buntings, crossbills, jnncos and snowflakes; 

 but it is not our intention in these sketches 

 to mention the particular genus to which 

 each species belongs, but will speak of them 

 here as common members of the same 

 great family. 



In the nesting habits of this family are 

 wide variations; for while some nest upon 

 the ground; others prefer sites in bushes or 

 cavities for that purpose; while others, again, 

 select high situations in trees for the cradle 

 of their progeny. 



The eggs of the majority of sparrows are 

 more or less spotted, and the young of all 

 are hatched out naked and only capable of 

 opening their bills for food, but towards the 

 young the greatest care is exercised by the 

 parent birds. Incubation lasts about two 

 weeks. 



All of them are more or less gifted with 

 the power of song. 



THE SWAMP SPAEEOW. 



(Melospisa Georgiana.) 

 This species is a summer resident of On- 

 tario, as well as various other parts of the 

 Canadian Provinces, including Labrador 

 and Newfoundland. Though noticed in 

 most sections of these countries, it does not 

 appear to be abundant or even common 

 anywhere, yet, owing to its love of deep 

 concealment, the wet places that it fre- 

 quents and its unnotieeable song, it may be 

 more numerous than is now generally 

 known. It is seldom ever seen near the 

 habitations of man, or in the open fields; 

 but haunts low, marshy grounds and the 

 margins of slow-running creeks, where 

 there is a thick growth of willows and other 

 low bushes and fallen brush-wood. Wa- 

 ter-ponds where there are tall flags and 

 grass in which it can readily conceal itself 

 undisturbed by the approach of humankind^ 

 or other creatures that it may regard as 

 foes, especially birds of prey, that often 

 sweep with murderous intentions over its 

 home. But though it may conceal itself 

 and nest from the eyes of marauding birds 

 and the collector, yet doubtless it is often 

 robbed by some of the various species of 

 wild animals which also frequent those 

 places that it choses for its summer home. 

 Its common notes, when its nest is ap- 

 proached, or it is otherwise alarmed, are a 

 series of sharp "chicks" and its song much 

 resembles those of the slate-colored junco 

 and chipping sparrow, though perhaps a 

 little louder; but this is seldom heard except 

 in the early days of summer, or perhaps at 

 the nesting period. 



It feeds on the seeds of the grasses, and 

 such insects as it can procure in the partic- 

 ular places it fiequents, and its partiality 

 for such food-stuffs no doubt induces it to 

 haunt such out of the way places as are 

 seldom fiequented by other members of 

 its family. 



