FRINGILLIDiE. BIllDS. FeINGILLID®. 
cxlv 
found in tlie middle of fields and orcliaids tluin any 
of the other species which usually lurk along' hedge- 
rows. It has no song, but a kind ot chirruping, not 
much different from the chirpings of a cricket.” — 
Wilson. Habitat, Eastern North America to the 
Missouri River. 
CHIPPING SPARROW {S. socialis).—'\']i\s is one of 
the most familiar birds in the Northern States. It 
is an early visitor, sometimes appearing by the 
middle of .March. Its nest is so universally lined 
with horse-hairs, it has come to be called, in some 
regions, Haiii-bird, or Hair Scarrow'. It is this 
species that is so often burdened with the eggs of 
the Cow-bird ; the latter lays them in the nest 
of the Sparrow, where they are hatched, and where 
the young Cow-birds find a home and sustenance in 
company with the legitimate brood. 'I’he Ci.ay- 
coi.ORED J3aNTiNG (S. pallida) is found on the upper 
Missouri River. A species much resembling the 
latter, and found from the Rocky IMountains to the 
Racific, is the Brewer’s Sparrow (S, breweri). R is 
now regarded as a variety only. A Me.xican species 
is S. atragularis, the Black-cliinnod Sparrow. A 
variety of S. socialis, arizonse, is found in the west. 
SONG SPARROW [Melospiza, melodia ). — Of all our 
Sparrows, this is the most numerous, the most gen- 
erally (lilfused over the United States, and by far (he 
earliest, sweetest and most lasting songster. It may 
be said to be partially migratory, many passing to 
the South in the month of November, and many of 
them still remaining with us, in low, close, sheltered 
meadows and swamps, during the whole of winter. 
It is the first singing-bird in spring, taking ju'e- 
cedence even of the Rewee and Hlue-bird. 'The Song- 
Sparrow builds his nest usually on the ground, but 
occasionally on a bush or low tree; it is lined, like 
that of the Chipping Sparrow, with horse-hair. Quite 
often it raises three broods in a season. A variety, 
found in California, has been named by Pi'of. Baird 
M. herniani. Another, from the same I'egion, is the 
M. gouldi, Baird. 'I’he Rusty Song Sparrow (M. 
rufina, Baird) is from the Racific Coast north- 
ward to Russian America. A species resembling 
the Song Sparrow, but larger, is the iMountain 
Song Sparrow (M. falla.x, Baird). It is from the 
Rocky Mountains. Lincoln’s Finch (M. lincolni), 
described by Audubon as Fringilla, is distributed 
through the States, from the Atlantic to the Racific, 
and south to Mexico. 
SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza 2Mlustris ). — This is 
not so common in New England as the Song and 
Chipping Sparrows, but breeds in all the Northern 
States. 'I'hey build their nests generally in a bunch 
of grass, in swampy places. Their food is iirincipally 
grass seeds, wild oats and insects. 'I'hey have no 
song, but utter a single chirp, or cheep. 
BACHMAN’S SPARROW [Peucaia mtivalis).—'V\\\s, 
is the Fringilla bachmani of Audubon. It is a 
southern bird, found in Georgia and the Gulf States. 
Ridgway has added an Arizona variety. 
CASSIN’S SPARROW (P. cassiui).— Rrof. Baird says 
of this species : “It has a considerable resemblance 
to R. aistivalis, Init ditfei's in some 
Yol. l.—t. 
points.” lAiiigth, si.x inches. Habitat, San Antonio, 
'I'exas, to r.iOS Nogales, Sonora. 
BROWN-HEADED SPARROW (P. Orig- 
inally described, by Cassin as Ammodronms ruficeps. 
Its length is five and a half inches. Habitat, coast 
of California. 
TEXAS SPARROW [Emhernagra rufieirgnta) is 
described by Mr. Geo. N. Lawrence, in Ann. N. Y. 
Lyceum Nat. Hist. Its length is five and a half 
inches. Habitat, valley of the Rio Gi'ande, and 
probably of Gila, southward ; Mazatlan, Mexico. 
FOX-COLORED SPARROW {Passerella iliaca ). — 
Fringilla. rufa of Wilson. “ 'I'his plump and ))r(>tt.y 
species arrives in Pennsylvania from the north about 
the 2()th of October, frecpients low, sheltered thickets, 
associates in little flocks of ten or twelve, and is 
almost continually scraping the ground and rustling 
among the fallen leaves.” — Wilson, 'this bird is 
very abundant in New England in the spring and 
autumn, arriving early in March, and going still 
farther north in April. In the autumn it arrives 
from the north, and departs foi' its southern winter 
home late in November. 
TOWNSEND’S SPARROW (P. townsendi).—'V\\\s is 
the Fringilla townsendi of Audubon. “'I'his species 
differs a good deal from the iliaca (last named). 'I’he 
claws are. much larger and stouter, the wing a good 
deal shorter and more rounded. 'I'he differences in 
color are very appreciable, the tints being dark 
oli vaceous-fu'own, instead of red, and jierfectly uni- 
form above, not spotted ; the under iiairts much more 
thickly spotted.” — Baird. Habitat, coast of United 
States, as far south as Sacramento. 
SLATE-COLORED SPARROW (P. sc/iwiacfirt).— This 
new species is described by Prof. Baird as follows : 
“It is read.ily distinguished from P. iliaca by the 
slate back and spots on its breast, without any 
streaks above. 'I'he bill is much stouter, and the 
claws longer. From townsendi it diffei's in having 
the head, back, sides and spots beneath, slate colored, 
instead of dark reddish-brown. 'I'he spotting beneath 
is much more sparse, the spots smaller, more triangular 
and confined to the terminal portion of the feathers, 
instead of frequently involving the entire outer edge. 
The bill is stouter. 'I'he wings and tail are the same in 
both sjiecies.” It is found at the head waters of the 
Platte, and at Fort 'I'ejon, Galifornia. It is now re- 
garded as a variety only of the latter. 
THICK-BILLED FINCH (P. megarhynclms) is an- 
other new variety of R. townsendi, from the west. 
LARK BUNTING [Calamospiiza hicolor). — 'I’his 
species, sometimes called the Wiiite-ivinged Bi.ack- 
BiRD, is the Corydalina of Audubon. “ Habitat, high 
central plains to the Rocky Mountains, southwesterly 
to the valley of Mimbres and Sonora.” 
BLACK-THROATED BUNTING [Euspiza americana). 
— 'I'his is ail extremely rai-e bird in New England. 
Massachusetts seems to be its most northern limit. 
“ In their shape and manners they very much resemble 
the Yellow Hammers of Britain (E. citrinella). Like 
them they are fond of mounting to the top of some 
half-grown tree, and there chirruping for half an hour 
ap[ireciabln ! at a time.” — Wilson. 
