384 
Slate-colored Junco 
ada on the north. In summer it is distributed generally from New!j 
England north throughout Canada as far west as Alaska. They also | 
breed in the upper parts of the Catskill Mountains and along thej 
ridge of the Appalachian Mountains south to Georgia. On many of f 
the mountains of western North Carolina I have found these birds a : 
most abundant species. In fact on some of the mountains one may i 
encounter more Snow-birds on a day’s tramp than all other species 
combined. Blueberries are very common in these mountains and in 
summer the Snow-bird varies its usual diet of insects with these wild 
berries which grow so profusely about its abode. i 
The nest is built in a depression in the ground often on the side ;i 
of some little bank or among the mingled roots and sod of an up- h 
turned tree. If, during the summer, one conies upon a Junco with a I 
little worm or the larvae of some insect in its bill, he need only wait I 
a few minutes and the bird will probably betray its _ 
Nest nest by going to feed its young. I have often had f 
and Eggs this experience. In fact the Snow-bird’s nest has \ 
been for me one of the easiest nests to find. In every [ 
instance I have found it by watching the birds going to it. The nest ^ 
itself is usually well hidden and the small amount of dried grass and [ 
moss of which it is composed so well blends with the surroundings ^ 
that one would hardly expect to discover the little cradle with its ! 
four or five speckled eggs or young. 
In the spring the Junco has a song. It is not very loud and is not 
very long, but hearing it as one usually does when few other birds , 
are giving voice to their happiness, it makes a strong appeal to the i 
ear of the bird-lover. 
The Slate-colored Junco {Junco hyemalis) is the common Junco 
with which most people are acquainted. No less than eight other sub- 
species have been described. Two of these will be mentioned. In the 
southern Alleghany Mountains and breeding as far south as northern 
Georgia there is a race of Juncos (/. h. carolinensis) that is slightly larger 
and its markings are a little different from the common Junco. Still 
another race, the Montana Junco, (/. /l montaiius) is found in the Rocky 
Mountains breeding from southern Alberta to Idaho and passing the 
winter in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. 
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