CANADA BUNTING (TREE SPARROW.) 85 



feet from the ground, on the horizontal branch of a fir tree, not far from the 

 stem. It was principally formed of rough grass, and lined with fibrous 

 roots, hairs of various quadrupeds, and some from the horse. It contained 

 five eggs, of a uniform deep blue, so closely resembling those of the Common 

 Chipping Sparrow, that, had they not been much larger, I might have con- 

 cluded them to be those of that bird. I suspect that, in a country where 

 the summer is so short, the Tree Sparrow seldom if ever breeds more than 

 once in the season. 



When we returned to the United States late in August, the Tree Sparrows 

 with their young were already moving southward. A mere intimation of 

 the rich chestnut colour of the head of the adult in summer was seen. They 

 had already tuned their pipes, which sounded in my ear as their affectionate 

 farewell to a country, where these sweet little creatures had met with all of 

 happiness that their nature could desire. 



The pair represented in the plate, and which have been placed on a twig 

 of the barberry bush, were procured at Boston. The drawing from which 

 it has been copied was made by my youngest son. 



According to Dr. T. M. Brewer, this is the most common Sparrow found 

 near Boston during the winter, inhabiting in large flocks the low bushes and 

 grass in marshy, sheltered situations, much of the time very quiet and 

 inactive. 



A specimen sent by him in spirits has the palate ascending obliquely, and 

 of the usual appearance, the upper mandible beneath with a middle promi- 

 nent line and two broad ridges, which at the base form a hard flattened 

 prominence, similar to that of the true Bunting, but not so elevated. Tongue 

 4i twelfths long, about as deep as broad, fleshy and convex at the base above, 

 channelled toward the end, which is pointed and horny. Width of mouth 

 3-| twelfths. (Esophagus 2 inches 1 twelfth long, dilated on the middle of 

 the neck into a large crop, 5 twelfths in width, which winds round into the 

 hollow of the neck behind. Stomach roundish, placed obliquely, 6 twelfths 

 long, 7-| twelfths broad; its lateral muscles very large, as are the tendons; 

 the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous. The stomach filled with 

 seeds and sand, and the crop partially filled with the former. The intestine 

 is 7 inches long, from 2 twelfths to 1 twelfth in width; the cceca 2 twelfths 

 long, i twelfth width, 10 twelfths from the extremity. 



The trachea is 1 inch 8 twelfths long, nearly 1 twelfth in breadth; its 

 rings 75, firm and considerably flattened. Inferior laryngeal muscles small. 

 Bronchi of about 12 half rings. 



Rarely reaches the Carolinas during winter, or Louisville on the Ohio. 

 Breeds from Maine northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory. 



Vol. III. 14 



