248 
PRIXGILLA ALBICOLLIS. 
the lower mandible, and another from the posterior 
angle of the eye ; back, black, slightly skirted with 
bay ; greater coverts also black, edged with bay ; wings 
and tail, plain brown; belly and vent, brownish white » 
bill, dusky above, bluish below; eyes, hazel; leg^> 
brown ; claws, strong and sharp, for ciinibiug the reeds- 
The female wants the bay on the crown, or has it indis' 
tiuctly ; over the eye is a line of dull white. 
164. FRIXGILLA ALmcOLLIS, WIt.SON. 
WIIITG-THROATED SPARROW. 
WILSOX, PLATE XXIV. FIG. H. 
This is the largest as well as handsomest of all o«t 
sparrows. It winters with the preceding- species afd 
several other.s in most of the States south of NeiT 
England. From Connecticut to Savannah I found 
these birds numerous, particularly in the neighbourhood 
of the Roanoke river, and among the rice plantations- 
In summer they retire to the higher inland parts of tb® 
country, and also farther north, to breed. According 
to Pennant, they are also found at that season in Ne" ' 
foundland. During their residence hero in wintefi 
they collect together in Hocks, always ])referriug tb® 
borders of swampy thickets, creeks, and mill-pondSi 
skirted with alder bushes and long rank weeds, tb® 
seeds of which form their principal food. Early 
spring, a little before they leave us, they have a 
remarkably sweet and clear notes, generally in tb®, 
morning a little after sunrise. About the 20th pj 
April they di.sappear, and wo see no more of them tin 
the beginning or second week of October, when theg 
again return ; part to pass the winter with us ; a““ 
part on their route farther south. 
The length ot the white-throated .sparrow is siS 
inches and a half, breadth, nine inches ; the ujiper p®®* 
of the back and the lesser n ing-coverts are bcantifuby 
variegated with black, bay, ash, and light brown; * 
stripe of white passes from the base of the upper msi’' 
dible to the hind head ; this is bordered on each sid® 
