224 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
r 
parts of the scaly anatomy. Certainly, there is no obvious reason why 
the abdominal and neighboring’ pectoral portions of a “ perch ” should 
be more palatable to the sprightly “ White-eyed Jackdaw,” as the native 
Floridians are accustomed to term the species. 
The Bronzed Grackle ( Q. quiscula ceneus, Ridgw.)is the common Crow 
Blackbird found in the western part of Pennsylvania west of the Alle¬ 
gheny mountains. In eastern Pennsylvania this bird is rather rare. This 
variety differs from the typical quiscula chiefly in having a uniform 
brassy-colored body, and wings and tail purplish or violet, never bluish. 
Family FRINGILLID^l. Finches, Sparrows, Etc. 
THE SPARROWS, ETC. 
Over thirty species of this, the largest North American family, are found in Penn¬ 
sylvania, either as residents, summer residents, regular spring and fall migrants, or 
casual visitors. Some species, especially the male Grosbeaks, also the male Purple 
Finch, Dickcissel, Indigo-bird, Towhee, Crossbills, Junco, Red-poll and Goldfinch 
are highly colored, being conspicuously marked with either one or more of these col¬ 
ors, red, yellow, black and blue ; others, in fact the majority, are plainly attired ; the 
Snowflake, when found in this state, is showily dressed in a garb of white and brown. 
The eyes, in all species other than the Towhee, which are red or yellowish, are brown 
or hazel. During the breeding season these birds are commonly seen singly or in 
pairs; but, at other times, many of them, particularly the English Sparrow, Snowflake, 
Red-poll, etc., are to be observed in large flocks, and small flocks or companies of all 
but a few species, which occur here, are frequently seen in fields, woods, thickets or 
in tangled weeds, grasses and briery places about streams and bushy swamps. Species 
are also common and familiar visitors to our orchards, yards and gardens. They 
subsist mainly on a vegetable diet, consisting largely of divers seeds ; but many of 
them, especially the English Sparrow, the Rose-breasted, Pine and Evening Gros¬ 
beaks, likewise the Purple Finch, the White-throated Sparrow and the two species 
of Crossbills, feed extensively on buds and other soft vegetable substances. The 
young of most, in fact nearly all, of these birds are fed largely on an insect diet, and 
during the breeding season many of the adult Fringillidce also subsist to a consid¬ 
erable extent on different kinds of insect-life, particularly small larvae, flies, spiders 
and the smaller beetles. Their nests are built usually in bushes or trees, but some 
build on the ground. Nearly a]l of these birds sing, “with varying ability and 
effect; some of them are among our most delightful vocalists”—( Coues ). “Prima¬ 
ries 9; bill very short, abruptly conical and robust. Commissure strongly angu- 
lated at base of bill. Nostrils placed very high; rictal bristles usually obvious; 
wings usually rather long and pointed. Tarsi scutellate in front, but the sides with 
two undivided plates meeting behind and producing a rather sharp posterior ridge. 
Tail of twelve feathers, but variable in form.” 
Genus COCCOTHRAUSTES Brisson. 
Coccothraustes vespertina (Coop.). 
Evening Grosbeak. 
Description (Plate 92). 
Bill very large and stout, over £ of an inch long and a little less in width at base ; 
color greenish-yellow. 
Male. —Forehead, line over eye, lower part of back and rump, under tail-coverts 
and lower part of belly yellow ; crown, tibiae, tail and its upper coverts and wings 
