W II I T E-T II R 0 A T E D S P A II 11 0 W. 
115 
This bird has a still greater resemblance to the Siskin of Europe (F. 
spinus), and may perhaps be the species described by Turton,* as the 
Black Mexican Siskin, which he says is varied above with black and 
yellowish, and is white beneath, and which is also said to sing finely. 
This change from flaxen to yellow is observable in the Goldfinch ; and 
no other two birds of our country resemble each other more than these 
do in their winter dresses. Should these surmises be found correct, a 
figure of this bird in his summer dress shall appear in some future part 
of our work. 
Species IX. FRINGILLA ALBICOLLTS.f 
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW 
[Plate XXII. Fig. 2.] 
Fringilla fusca, Bartram, p. 291.— Lath, ii., 272. — Edwards, 304. — Arct. Zool.-p. 
373, No. 248. 
Tins 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 neighborhood of the Roanoke river, 
and among the rice plantations. In summer they retire to the higher 
inland parts of the country, and also farther north to breed. Accord- 
ing to Pennant they are also found at that season in Newfoundland. 
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 twentieth 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 
* Turton, vol. I., p. 550. 
f Fringilla pennsyloaniea, Lath. lad. Orn. I., 445. — Passer pennsylvanicus, 
Briss. app. p. 77. — Id. 8vo. i., p. 367. 
