APPENDIX. 
517 
HABITS. 
The White-crowned Sparrows are not common either in spring or fall in Massachu¬ 
setts, hut are quite abundant in Pennsylvania and westward when migrating. In general 
habits they resemble the White-throated Sparrows, but breed from Labrador, northward. 
The song is, however, quite different, being short, loud, and clear. 
GUIRACA LUDOVICIANA. 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 
Guiraca ludoviciana Sw., Phil. Mag., I; 1827, 438. 
Sp. Cn. Form, robust. Size, large. Color. Adult male. Head and neck all around, and upper parts, black, with 
middle wing coverts, spots on tertiaries, patch on inner webs of outer tail feathers, greater wing coverts, rump, upper tail 
coverts and beneath, white. Triangular patch on breast, sometimes extending from throat to middle of body, under wing 
coverts, and axillaries, bright rosy-red. Female, brown above streaked with yellowish, with central stripe on head, super¬ 
ciliary line, spots on tertiaries and secondaries, tipsofwing coverts and beneath, ashy, the last being streaked with brown. 
The under wing coverts are salmon. Young. Similar to female but the males have the rose-colored under wing coverts. 
Observations. Recognized by the large size and highly colored under wing coverts. Breeds from Pennsylvania to 
Canada; winters south of our limits. Dimensions. Length, 8'00; stretch, 12*75; wing, 4*00; tail, 3'10; bill, *65, tarsus, 75. 
Nests and Eggs Nests, placed in trees or bushes, composed of small twigs and grass. Eggs, four or five in number, 
oval in form, bluish-green in color, spotted and blotched with brown and lilac. Dimensions from '68 x 92 to '75 x 1*00. 
HABITS. 
The song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is very fine and, when once heard, can be 
easily recognized. These birds are remarkably unsuspicious, allowing one to approach 
quite near them without exhibiting any fear. This is especially noticeable in the females 
when sitting, and I once turned a nest completely upside down, while bending down a 
bran'ch on which it was placed, and righted it again, without the old bird leaving it. These 
Grosbeaks are fond off deeply wooded glens but are occasionally found in orchards. The 
nest is often placed in a thicket near water. 
GUIRACA CCERUIiEA. 
Blue Grosbeak. 
Guiraca ceerulea Sw., Birds Mex.; 1827. 
Sp. Cii. Form, slender. Size, small. Color. Adult male. Brilliant blue throughout, darkest on back. Space a- 
round bill, black, and two bands on wings, reddish-brown. Female, yellowish-brown becoming lighter beneath and faint¬ 
ly tinged with bluish on crown and the young are similar. 
Observations. Known by the large size and uniform blue or brown color. Breeds from Pennsylvania southward; win¬ 
tering south of our limits. Dimensions. Length, 7*25; stretch, 11*50; wing, 3*50; tail, 2'80; bill, 58; tarsus, *95. 
Nests and Eggs. Nests, placed in trees, composed of strips of bark, grass, etc. Eggs, three or four in number, oval in 
form, and pale bluish-green in color. Dimensions from *60x *90 to *65 x '98. 
HABITS. 
The Blue Grosbeak breeds in the South and is only accidental in New England, a 
specimen having been obtained some years ago in Maine, and one during the pass sum¬ 
mer, (1880) by Mr. Gordon Plummer, near his residence in Brookline. I have never seen 
a living specimen of this fine bird. 
HELOSPIZA LINCOLNI. 
Lincoln’s Sparrow. 
Helospiza Lincolni Bd., Birds. N. A.; 1858, 477 
Sp. Cu Form, slender. Size, small. Color. Adult. Above and on sides, yellowish-ash becoming buff in a band 
across breast and on under wing and tail coverts and rufous on two bands on crown; streaked with dark-brown. Remain¬ 
der of under parts, white. Young. Similar but with the colors below darker. 
Observations. Recognized by the buff band across breast. Occurs in summer from Massachusetts, north and west. 
Winters south of our limits. ’ Dimensions. Length, 5*59; stretch, 8'75; wing,265; tail, 2'00; bill, '45; tarsus, '75. 
HABITS. 
Lincoln’s Sparrows are not common, as a rule, in New England, but occur regularly in 
certian localities; thus, they are not uncommon near the Fresh Pond marshes, Cambridge, 
