270 
FRINGILLA ILIACA. 
SUBGENUS III. — FRINGILLA, VIEILL. 
178 . FRINGILLA ILIACA, MUEEM. 
FRINGILLA RUFA ( FERRUGINEA ), WILSON. 
FOX-COLOURED SPARROW. 
WILSON, PLATE XXII. FIG. IV. — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This plump and pretty species arrives in Pennsyl- 
vania from the north about the 20th of October ; fre- 
quents low, sheltered thickets ; associates in little flocks 
of ten or twelve; and is almost continually scraping the 
ground, and rustling among the fallen leaves. I found 
this bird numerous in November among the rich culti- 
vated flats that border the river Connecticut ; and was 
informed that it leaves those places in spring. I also 
found it in the northern parts of the State of Vermont. 
Along the borders of the great reed and cypress swamps 
of Virginia, and North and South Carolina, as well .as 
around the rice plantations, I observed this bird very 
frequently. They also inhabit Newfoundland.* They 
are rather of a solitary nature, seldom feeding in the 
open fields, but generally under thickets, or among tall 
rank weeds on the edges of fields. They sometimes 
associate with the snow bird, but more generally keep 
by themselves. Their manners very much resemble 
those of the red-eyed, or towhe bunting; they are 
silent, tame, and unsuspicious. They have generally 
no other note while here than a shep, shep ; yet I sus- 
pect they have some song in the places where they 
breed; for I once heard a single one, a little before the 
time they leave us, warble out a few very sweet low 
notes. 
The fox-coloured sparrow is six inches long, and 
nine and a quarter broad ; the upper part of the head 
and neck is cinereous, edged with rust colour ; back, 
handsomely mottled with reddish brown, and cinereous ; 
* Pennant. 
