340 
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. 
WHITE THROATED SPARROW. — FRINGILLA 
ALBICOLLIS. —Plate XXII. Fig. 2. 
Fringilla fusca, Bar tram, p. 291 Latli. ii. 272 Edwards, 304 Arct. Zool. 
p. 373, No. 248. — Peale's Museum, No. 6486. 
ZONO TRICHI A PENNSYL PANIC A. — S wainson. 
Fringilla Pennsylvanica, Lath. Ind. Orn. i.p. 445. — Bonap. Synop. p. 108 The 
White Throated Spai-row, Aud. pi. 8, male and female ; Orn. Biog. i. p. 42. — 
North. Zool. ii. p. 256. 
This 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 
neighbourhood 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. According 
to Pennant, they are also found at that season in Newfound- 
land. 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 20th 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 head ; this is 
bordered on each side with a stripe of black ; below this again 
is another of white passing over each eye, and deepening into 
