190 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



name Grasshopper Sparrow is given because its note bears a very 

 close resemblance to that of the grasshopper. In Chester and the 

 neighboring counties, this bird is a common frequenter of dry sandy 

 meadows, clover and grass fields, about which it may often be seen 

 perched on the top of low weeds or on posts and fence rails. This is 

 one of the Sparrows, to be seen in the summer time perched on the 

 fences along the roadsides. I have never observed a bird of this 

 species alight in a tree, and it rarely is seen to perch on bushes. The 

 nest is built on the ground, and is usually concealed by a tuft of grass 

 or a bunch of weeds. It is composed of dry grasses, horse hair and 

 fine roots; eggs, 4 or 5, white with reddish-brown spots, .72 length by 

 .61 breadth. 



The Yellow- winged Sparrow, during its residence with us, feeds 

 principally on different kinds of insect life ; the small seeds of various 

 plants, grasses and weeds are also taken. Beetles, grasshoppers, flies, 

 earthworms, etc., are eaten in large numbers ; the young, when in 

 charge of the parents, are fed chiefly on spiders and larvae. 



GENUS ZONOTRICHIA. SWAINSON. 

 558. Zonotrichia albicollis (GMEL.). 



White-throated Sparrow. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Two black stripes on the crown separated by a median one of white ; a broad sup- 

 erciliary stripe from the base of the mandible to the occiput, yellow as far as the 

 middle of the eye and white behind this ; a broad black streak on the side of the 

 head from behind the eye ; chin white, abruptly defined against the dark ash of the 

 sides of the head and upper part of the breast, fading into white on the belly, and 

 margined by a narrow black maxillary line ; edge of wing and axillaries yellow ; 

 back and edges of secondaries rufous-brown, the former streaked with dark-brown ; 

 two narrow white bands across the wing coverts ; iris brown ; legs light-brown. 



Female smaller, and the colors rather duller. Immature and winter specimens 

 have the white chin-patch less abruptly denned ; the white markings on the top and 

 sides of the head tinged with brown. 



Young. Black stripes of head replaced by brown ; median stripe dull whitish or 

 brownish ; line over eye brownish ; little or no yellow over and in front of eye ; 

 throat indistinctly whitish ; conspicuous dusky lines on breast and sides. Length 

 about 7 inches ; extent about 9. 



Hob. Eastern North America, west to the plains, north to Labrador and the fur 

 countries. Breeds in northern Michigan, northern New York and northern New 

 England, and winters from the Middle States southward. 



This beautiful Sparrow, one of our most common spring and fall 

 migrants, is found usually in small flocks about woods, apple orchards, 

 gardens and shrubbery. In the spring, particularly in April and the 

 early part of May, the White-throats subsist largely, indeed chiefly, 

 on the buds and blossoms of the apple, beech and maple trees. Dur- 

 ing their vernal migrations they may be observed, singly or in flocks, 



