SNOW-BIRD. 
113 
Sparrow, which we find so common in that season, and which is repre- 
sented in the same plate. I had convinced a gentleman of New York 
of his mistake in this matter, by taking him to 1 the house of a Mr. 
Gautier, there, who amuses himself by keeping a great number of native 
as well as foreign birds. This was in the month of July, and the Snow- 
bird appeared there in the same colored plumage he usually has. 
Several individuals of the Chipping Sparrow were also in the same 
apartment. The evidence was therefore irresistible ; but as I had not 
the same proofs to offer to the eye in New England, I had not the same 
success. 
There must be something in the temperature of the blood or consti- 
tution of this bird which unfits it for residing, during summer, in the 
lower parts of the United States ; as the country here abounds with a 
great variety of food, of which, during its stay here, it appears to be 
remarkably fond. Or, perhaps, its habit of associating in such numbers 
to breed, and building its nest with so little precaution, may, to insure 
its safety, require a solitary region, far from the intruding footsteps of 
man. 
The Snow-bird is six inches long, and nine in extent, the head, neck, 
and upper parts of the breast, body and wings, are of a deep slate 
color ; the plumage sometimes skirted with brown, which is the color 
of the young birds ; the lower parts of the breast, the whole belly and 
vent, are pure white ; the three secondary quill feathers next the body 
are edged Avith brown, the primaries with white ; the tail is dusky slate, 
a little forked, the two exterior feathers wholly white, which are flirted 
out as it flies, and appear then very prominent ; the bill and legs are of 
a reddish flesh color ; the eye bluish black. The female ^differs from 
the male in being considerably more brown. In the depth of winter 
the slate color of the male becomes more deep and much purer, the 
brown disappearing nearly altogether. 
Vol. II.— 8 
