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THE FOX-COLOURED FINCH. 
Fringilla iliaca, Merrem. 
PLATE CLXXXYI. — Male and Female. 
Although the Fox-coloured Sparrow visits us regularly at the approach 
of winter, it merely remains during the few months of the year which are 
too severe in the more northern parts of our continent, where it resides at 
all other periods. It wanders, however, as far southward 'as the lower 
parts of Louisiana, is also met with in Kentucky, and in the countries bor- 
dering on the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi, and visits the Floridas, 
Georgia, the Carolinas, and in short every State south of Massachusetts. 
In the latter State, and in that of Maine, few individuals are seen after its 
passage through these districts, late in October. 
In the northern parts of America, where it breeds, it replaces the Towhe 
Bunting, so abundant in our middle States, where it delights us with its 
song. To that species the Fox-coloured Sparrow comes next in size, while 
it greatly surpasses it in its musical powers. 
While in the United States, it lives retired, and separates itself from 
most other species. Little flocks, consisting of a family or two, take pos- 
session of some low well-covered thicket, by the side of some clear stream- 
let, where they spend the winter unmolested, searching for food among the 
fallen and withered leaves, or among the roots and dead branches of trees. 
Should a warm morning dawn on their retreat, the male birds directly 
ascend to the middle branches of the brambles, and in a soft under tone 
cheer the females with their melodies. At all other times they remain 
comparatively silent, merely emitting a note to call each other, or to assure 
their little family that all is safe around them. Towards spring a kind 
of bustle takes place in their camp : the males, already warmed with affec- 
tion and love, renew their attentions to their mates ; new connections are 
formed by the young ; their song becomes much improved ; and the passer- 
by may here and there see a pair moving slowly and cautiously towards 
the land whence they had emigrated some months before. 
Follow these birds wherever you will, you invariably find them not in 
deep woods, but along the fences, and amid patches of briars and tangled 
underwood, which at all times seem so pleasing to them. They traverse the 
