248 
FRINGILLA 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; legs, 
brown ; claws, strong and sharp, for climbing the reeds. 
The female wants the bay on the crown, or has it indis- 
tinctly ; over the eye is a line of dull white. 
164. FRINGILLA ALBICOLLIS , WILSON. 
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. 
WILSON, PLATE XXIV. FIG. II. 
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 New- 
foundland. 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 man- 
dible to the hind head ; this is bordered on each side 
