340 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. 



WHITE-THEOATED SPAEKOW. {Fringilla albicolUs.) 



PLATE XXII. -Fig. 2. 



Fringilla fusca, Bartram, p. 291. — Lath. ii. 272. — Edwards, 304. — Arct. Zool. p. 

 373, No. 248.— Peale's Museum, No. 6486. 



ZONOTRICHIA PENWSYLVAJYICA.—Bwaisson. 



Fringilla Pennsylvanica, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 445. — Bonap. Synop. p. 108. — The 

 "White-Throated Sparrow, Aud. pi. 8, male and female, Om. Biog. i. p. 42. — 

 North. Zool. ii. p. 256. 



This is the largest as well as handsomest of all our sparrows. 

 It winters with the preceding species and several others in 

 most of the States south of New England. From Connecticut 

 to Savannah I found these birds numerous, particularly in 

 the neighbourhood of the Eoanoke river, and among the rice 

 plantations. In summer they retire to the higher inland parts 

 of the country, and also farther north, to breed. According 

 to Pennant, they are also found at that season in Newfound- 

 land. During their residence here in winter, they collect 

 together in flocks, always preferring the borders of swampy 

 thickets, creeks, and mill-ponds, skirted with alder bushes and 

 long rank weeds, the seeds of which form their principal food. 

 Early in spring, a little before they leave us, they have a few 

 remarkably sweet and clear notes, generally in the morning a 

 little after sunrise. About the 20th of April they disappear, 

 and we see no more of them till the beginning or second week 

 of October, when they again return, part to pass the winter 

 with us, and part on their route farther south. 



The length of the white-throated sparrow is six inches and 

 a half ; breadth, nine inches ; the upper part of the back and 

 the lesser wing-coverts are beautifully variegated with black, 

 bay, ash, and light brown ; a stripe of white passes from the 

 base of the upper mandible to the hind head; this is bordered 

 on each side with a stripe of black ; below this again is 

 another of white passing over each eye, aud deepening into 



