Chapter III: Part 3

Large size and a yellow head distinguish the male;
the female is duller, the body brownish, the head
yellowish. L. 10.

_Range._ Mississippi Valley and westward, breeding
from northern Illinois northward to Canada;
winters from the west Gulf coast and southern
California into Mexico; accidental east of the
Alleghanies.

Washington, A.V., one instance, Aug. Cambridge,
A.V., one record, Oct. Glen Ellyn, A.V., May 21,
1898. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 21.

Hanging their cradle nest in the quill-reeds or rushes, the Yellow-heads are not found far from it until the young take wing. The male entertains his mate with a variety of strange calls and whistles, but leaves to her the hatching of the brown speckled eggs and care of the young while they are in the nest. Like other Blackbirds they migrate and winter in flocks.

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

_Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus. Case 5, Figs. 5, 6_

The male in spring and early summer is
unmistakable; in winter his feathers are tipped
with brownish, more pronounced in the young. The
streaked females require closer scrutiny. L.
9-1/2.

_Range._ Eastern North America, nests from Florida
to Canada; winters from Maryland southward,
sometimes farther north. The Florida Red-wing (_A.
p. floridanus_, Case 4, Figs. 28, 29) is smaller
and with a slenderer bill. It inhabits Florida
(except the southeast coast and Keys) and ranges
west along the Gulf coast to Texas. The Bahama
Red-wing (_A. p. bahamensis_) is still smaller. It
is resident in southeastern Florida, the Keys and
Bahamas.

Washington, common P.R., abundant in migration.
Ossining, common S.R., Feb. 25-Nov. 11. Cambridge,
abundant S.R., Mch. 10-Aug. 30; a few winter. N.
Ohio, abundant S.R., Mch. 1-Nov. 15. Glen Ellyn,
common S.R., Mch. 5-Nov. 19. SE. Minn., common
S.R., Mch. 8-Nov. 14.

The Red-wing's mellow _kong-quer-reee_ is as certain an indication of the presence of water as is the piping of frogs in the spring. It may be only a bit of boggy marshland, it may be a reedy lakeside, but water there will surely be. On a frequented perch he half spreads his wings, fluffs out his scarlet epaulets, bursting into bloom, as it were, when he utters his notes--a singing flower! The nest is in the alders, button-bushes, or reeds, or even on the ground, and although the birds come in March, their pale blue, spotted, blotched, and scrawled eggs are not laid until May. Except when nesting, Red-wings live in flocks.

MEADOWLARK

_Sturnella magna magna. Case 2, Fig. 23_

A large, quail-like bird which shows white outer
tail-feathers when it flies; if one can obtain a
front view, the yellow underparts and black
breast-crescent are conspicuous. L. 10-3/4.

_Range._ Eastern North America, rare west of the
Mississippi; nesting from North Carolina and
Missouri to Canada; winters from southern New
England and northern Ohio southward. The Southern
Meadowlark (_S. m. argutula_, Case, 4, Fig. 79) is
smaller and darker. It is resident in the south
Atlantic and Gulf States.

Washington, common P.R., less common in winter.
Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Feb. 20-Nov. 27;
a few winter. Cambridge, common S.R., not common
W.V. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Mch. 5-Nov. 15; a
few winter. Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Jan. 24-Nov.
15; irregular W.V. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch.
25-Oct. 15; rare W.V.

The Meadowlark is a fifer of the fields, whose high, clear whistle is one of the most welcome bird songs of early spring. In May, when nesting, it often sings an ecstatic twittering warble on the wing. The alarm calls are an unmusical _dzit_ or _yert_ and a string of beady, metallic notes.

The nest is placed on the ground. The 4-6 eggs are white, speckled with brown.

WESTERN MEADOWLARK

_Sturnella neglecta_

Grayer than the Eastern Meadowlark, with
disconnected tail-bars and yellow spreading to the
sides of the throat.

_Range._ Western United States, rare east of the
Mississippi. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 25-Oct.
15.

With the general appearance and habits of the Eastern Meadowlark, but differing in its call-notes and song. Instead of the sharp _dzit_ or _yert_ and metallic twitter of the eastern bird, the western species calls _chuck_, _chuck_, followed by a rolling _b-r-r-r-_. The eastern bird plays the fife but the western uses the flute, and its bubbling grace-notes are easily distinguishable from the _straight_ whistling of its eastern cousin.

ORCHARD ORIOLE

_Icterus spurius. Case 7, Figs. 10-12_

Adult males are unmistakable, but females and
young males in their first fall wear a
non-committal costume and must be looked at
sharply. In their first nesting season, young
males resemble the female but have a black throat.
This is a smaller, more slender bird than the
Baltimore Oriole, and the female is less orange.
L. 7-1/4.

_Range._ Eastern United States, nesting from the
Gulf States to Massachusetts and Minnesota;
winters in the tropics.

Washington, common S.R., Apl. 20-Aug. 22.
Ossining, common S.R., May 2-Aug. 6. Cambridge,
S.R., sometimes rather common, May 15-July. N.
Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 28-Sept. 5. Glen Ellyn,
not common S.R., Apl. 38. SE. Minn., uncommon
S.R., May 10-Aug. 26.

In the northern part of its range, the Orchard Oriole is somewhat less common, and more local than the Baltimore Oriole, while its duller colors and more retiring habits make it more difficult to see. The voice is richer, more cultured--if one may use the term--than that of its brilliant orange-plumed cousin; indeed, in my opinion, this species deserves a place in the first rank of our songsters. The nest of finely woven grasses is not so deep as that of the Baltimore. Three to five bluish white eggs, spotted and scrawled with black, are laid the latter part of May.

BALTIMORE ORIOLE

_Icterus galbula. Case 7, Figs. 8, 9_

The orange and black male needs no introduction;
the female is tinted with orange strongly enough
to show her relationship. L. 7-1/2.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nests from
northern Georgia to Canada; winters in the
tropics.

Washington, rather common S.R., Apl. 29-Aug. 26.
Ossining, common S.R., May 2-Sept. 1. Cambridge,
very common S.R., May 8 through Aug. N. Ohio,
common S.R., Apl. 15-Sept. 10. Glen Ellyn, common
S.R., Apl. 26-Sept. 4. SE. Minn., common S.R., May
1-Sept. 1.

This is the orange-and-black whistler of our fruit and shade trees, whose wife skillfully weaves a pendant cradle at the end of some drooping branch, therein to lay her white eggs curiously marked with fine lines and blotches of black. The young, after leaving the nest in June, have a loud, babyish food-call, _dee-dee-dee-dee_, repeated time after time until their wants are satisfied.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD

_Euphagus carolinus. Case 5, Figs. 3, 4_

The bird's common name is based on the fall
plumage of the male, which is broadly margined
with rusty. By spring these tips wear off and the
bird is glossy black. Size of the Red-wing but
with a whitish eye and no red; the female
unstreaked.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nests from the
northern part of the northern states to Canada;
winters from New Jersey and Ohio to the Gulf
States.

Washington, common W.V., Oct. 13-Apl. 30.
Ossining, common T.V., Mch. 26-May 8; Sept.
28-Nov. 27. Cambridge, very common T.V., Mch.
10-May 8; Sept. 15-Oct. 31. N. Ohio, common T.V.,
Mch. 5-May 10; Sept. 10-Nov. 15. Glen Ellyn,
common T.V., Mch. 3-May 8; Sept. 12-Nov. 15;
uncommon W.V. SE. Minn., common T.V., Mch. 26-Nov.
24.

This is the least conspicuous of our Blackbirds. It nests chiefly north of the United States, migrates in small flocks, and is less noisy than the Red-wing or Grackle and not so much in evidence as the Cowbird. Dwight describes its notes as "a confused medley of whistles, sweeter and higher-pitched than those of the Red-wing." It nests in May, building in coniferous trees or near the ground, and laying 4-7 greenish eggs, heavily marked with brown and purple.

PURPLE GRACKLE

_Quiscalus quiscula quiscula. Case 5, Fig. 1_

Plumage varied with metallic and iridescent
reflections; tail long, fan-shaped, often 'keeled'
in flight; eye pale yellow. Male, L. 12-1/2. The
female is smaller and duller; L. 10-1/2.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nests east of the
Alleghanies from northern Georgia to Connecticut;
winters from Maryland southward.

Washington, common T.V. and S.R., Feb. 20; a few
winter. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., Feb.
15-Nov. 8. Cambridge, rare S.R.

The Florida Grackle (_Quiscalus quiscula aglæus_, Case 4, Fig. 74) is smaller than the Purple Grackle and has the head and neck violet-purple, the back bottle-green. It is resident in Florida and the Gulf States north to South Carolina.

The Bronzed Grackle (_Quiscalus quiscula oeneus_, Case 5, Fig. 2) is the same size as the Purple Grackle, but has the body bronzy without iridescent markings. It nests from Texas up the Mississippi Valley and eastward through central New York and Massachusetts to New Brunswick, north to Canada; and in migration is found in the range of the Purple Grackle. It winters from the Ohio Valley southward.

Washington, rare T.V., Feb 20-Apl. 17. Ossining,
common T.V., Apl; Nov. Cambridge, abundant. S.R.,
Mch. 10-Nov. 1; occasional in winter. N. Ohio,
abundant, S.R., Mch. 1-Nov. 15; rarely winters.
Glen Ellyn, common S.R., Mch. 5-Nov. 15, SE. Minn,
common S.R., Mch, 18-Nov. 1; rare in winter.

The Grackle is the largest of our northern Blackbirds. In the south it is exceeded in size only by the Boat-tailed Grackle. It migrates in flocks and nests in colonies, often in parks and cemeteries. It feeds chiefly on the ground and is frequently seen upon our lawns when it may be known by its rather waddling, walking gait, and its long tail. Its notes are harsh, cracked and discordant, but when heard in chorus make a pleasing medley. The nest is sometimes placed in pines about 30 feet up, but also in bushes and even in holes in trees. The 3-7 eggs are usually pale bluish, heavily blotched and scrawled with brown and black.

BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE

_Megaquiscalus major major_

The male is a long-tailed, glossy blue-black bird.
(L. 16.) The female is much smaller (L. 12),
blackish brown above, buff below.

_Range._ Florida north on the Atlantic coast to
Virginia; west to Texas.

This giant Grackle frequents lakes, lagoons and bays, where it feeds along the shore or among aquatic plants. The male, a poseur among birds, strikes strange attitudes with bill pointing skyward, and with apparent effort forces out hoarse whistles. The female is quiet and unassuming. They nest in colonies, building in bushes and laying in April 3-5 bluish white eggs, strikingly blotched and scrawled with blackish.

FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. FAMILY FRINGILLIDÆ

EVENING GROSBEAK

_Hesperiphona vespertina vespertina_

A large, thick-set, heavy-billed, black and yellow
Finch. The male with the forehead and most of the
body yellow, the crown, wings and tail black; the
inner wing-quills white. The female is brownish
gray, more or less tinged with yellow, the wings
and tail black with white markings. L. 8.

_Range._ Western North America, wintering
regularly eastward to Minnesota and irregularly to
the North Atlantic States.

Glen Ellyn, one record, Dec. 11, 1889. SE. Minn.,
common W.V., Oct. 17-May 19.

Male and Female.]

The Evening Grosbeak is a notable traveler from the far northwest whose rare, irregular, and unheralded visits and striking appearance make him always a welcome and distinguished guest. Of recent years these birds have come to the east with greater frequency, arriving in November and remaining as late as May. They feed largely on the buds and seeds of trees--maple and box-elder--and can often be attracted to our feeding-stations by the offer of sunflower seeds. They are usually associated in flocks of from six to eight to ten birds, and their notes when perching, have been described as resembling the jingle of small sleigh-bells, while their song is said to be a "wandering jerky warble."

PINE GROSBEAK

_Pinicola enucleator leucura. Case 2, Figs. 53, 54_

Adult males are unmistakable; but young males and
female might be confused with the female Evening
Grosbeak, but they lack the conspicuous white
markings in the wings and tail of that species. L.
9.

_Range._ Northern North America, wintering
southward irregularly to Indiana and New Jersey;
rarely as far as Kentucky and Washington.

Washington, casual in winter. Ossining, irregular
W.V., Dec. 18-Apl. 12. Cambridge, irregular W.V.,
frequently common, sometimes abundant, Nov. 1-Mch.
25. N. Ohio, occasional W.V. Glen Ellyn, uncommon
and irregular W.V., Oct. 25-? SE. Minn., uncommon
W.V.

In the summer the Pines Grosbeak lives in coniferous forests, but on its irregular wanderings southward, like the Evening Grosbeak, it feeds upon the seeds of deciduous trees and bushes. The Grosbeak's call-note is a clear whistle of three or four notes which may be easily imitated; its song is said to be prolonged and melodious.

The Pine and Evening Grosbeaks would be notable figures in any gathering of birds, but coming at the most barren time of the year when our bird population is at the minimum and the trees are leafless, they are as welcome as they are conspicuous.

PURPLE FINCH

_Carpodacus purpureus purpureus. Case 2, Figs. 32, 33; Case 4, Figs. 48, 49_

The adult male is dull rose rather than purple,
the female is sparrow-like in appearance but may
be known by a whitish line over the eye and the
company she keeps. Young males resemble their
mother their first winter. L. 6-1/4.

_Range._ Eastern North America; nesting from
northern Illinois and northern New Jersey
northward to Canada; winters from the Middle
States to the Gulf.

Washington, common W.V., Sept. 12-May 26, largely
a migrant. Ossining, rare P.R., common T.V.
Cambridge, P.R. common from Apl. to Oct.;
irregular, but sometimes abundant in winter. N.
Ohio, common W.V., Sept. 1-May 20. Glen Ellyn,
fairly common T.V., Mch.-Apl., Sept.-Oct.,
uncommon W.V.

Erratic wanderers which travel on no fixed schedule but seem to feel at home wherever they find themselves. Except when nesting, they usually live in small flocks which, if the fare of our feeding-stands please them, will sometimes live with us for weeks. The call-note is _creak-creak_, the song a flowing, musical warble often uttered in detached fragments. Four to six bluish, spotted eggs are laid in May; the nest being generally built in a coniferous tree.

ENGLISH SPARROW; HOUSE SPARROW

_Passer domesticus domesticus. Case 2, Figs. 30, 31; Case 4, Figs. 38, 39_

Unfortunately too well known to require
description. L. 6-1/2.

_Range._ First introduced into this country at
Brooklyn, N.Y., from Europe in 1851; now found
everywhere at all times.

Hardy, pugnacious and adaptable, the Sparrow is a notable success in the bird world. We could overlook his objectionable traits if he possessed a pleasant voice, but his harsh, discordant notes and incessant chatter are unfortunately in harmony with his character. After all he gives a welcome touch of life to city streets and yards. Sparrows' nests are made of almost anything the birds can carry and built in any place that will hold them. The 4-7 finely speckled eggs are laid as early as March, and several broods are raised.

AMERICAN CROSSBILL

_Loxia curvirostra minor. Case 2 Figs. 49, 50_

Crossbills have the mandibles crossed; the absence
of wing-bars distinguishes this species from the
usually less common White-winged Crossbill. L.
6-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England to Canada
and southward in the Alleghanies to northern
Georgia. Winters irregularly southward, rarely as
far as Florida and Louisiana.

Washington, irregular W.V., sometimes abundant.
Ossining, irregular; noted in almost every month.
Cambridge, of common but irregular occurrence at
all seasons. N. Ohio, irregular, often common,
sometimes breeds. Glen Ellyn, uncommon and
irregular, Oct. 20-June 11. SE. Minn., W.V., Oct.
25.

Crossbills and Grosbeaks are among winter's chief attractions. While the latter, as I have said above, will leave their summer homes in coniferous forests to feed in winter on the seeds of deciduous trees, the Crossbills are less adaptable. They are specialists in cone-dissecting. Their singularly shaped bills prevent them from eating many kinds of food available to other birds, but no other birds can compete with them in extracting the seeds from cones. Having had too limited an experience with man to have learned to fear him, they are so surprisingly tame that I have known birds to be plucked from trees as one would pick off the cones on which they were feeding. In March, while the ground is still snow-covered, they lay 3-4 pale greenish, spotted eggs in a well-formed nest, 15-30 feet up in a coniferous tree.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL

_Loxia leucoptera. Case 2, Figs. 51, 52_

Both sexes have white wing-bars and the male is of
a paler, more rosy red than the male of the
American Crossbill.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England to
Canada; winters irregularly to southern Illinois
and North Carolina.

Washington, casual. Ossining, rare T.V., Oct.
29-Dec. 6, Cambridge, irregular W.V. N. Ohio, rare
W.V. Glen Ellyn, rare, fall records only, Nov. SE.
Minn., W.V., latest record Mch. 4.

A rarer bird than the American Crossbill which, however, it resembles in habits. Both climb about the branches of cone-bearing trees like little Parrots, while feeding keep up a low conversational chatter, and take wing with a clicking note. They have been found nesting in Nova Scotia as early as February 6.

REDPOLL

_Acanthis linaria linaria. Case 2. Figs. 47, 48_

Any little sparrow-like bird with a red cap is a
Redpoll. Adult males have the breast also red. L.
5-1/2.

_Range._ Nests in Canada and Alaska; winters
irregularly south ward to Ohio and Virginia.

Washington, very rare and irregular W.V. Ossining,
regular W.V., Nov. 25-Mch. 26. Cambridge,
irregular W.V., often very abundant, Oct. 25-Apl.
10. N. Ohio, rare W.V. Glen Ellyn, irregular W.V.,
Nov. 6-Mch. 7. SE. Minn., common W.V., Oct.
31-Apl. 7.

A winter visitor from the far North whose coming never can be foretold. Years may pass without seeing them, then late some fall, they may appear in numbers. They are usually in flocks and feed upon seeds as well as birch and alder catkins. In notes and general habits the Redpoll resembles the Goldfinch.

Holboell's Redpoll (_A. holboelli_) is a slightly larger race, with a longer, more slender bill. It is a more northern form than the preceding, and rarely visits the United States. The Greater Redpoll (_A. l. rostrata_) is also larger than the common Redpoll, but has a shorter, stouter bill. It nests in Greenland and is of casual occurrence in the northern United States. The Hoary Redpoll (_A. hornemanni exilipes_) is a whiter bird than the preceding with no streaks on the rump and comparatively few on the underparts. It nests within the Arctic Circle and rarely visits the northern United States in winter.

Satisfactory identification of these races of the Redpoll can be made only by expert examination of specimens. The field student, however, may call any Redpoll he sees the Common Redpoll with the chances of being right largely in his favor.

GOLDFINCH

_Astragalinus tristis tristis. Case 2. Figs. 35, 36; Case 4, Figs. 50, 51_

While he wears his 'Goldfinch' costume, the male
will be known at a glance, but in winter, when he
takes the dull yellow-olive dress of his mate,
several glances may be required to recognize him,
and this remark, of course, applies to the female
at all seasons. L. 5.

_Range._ North America; the eastern form nests
from Arkansas and northern Georgia to Canada and
winters from the Northern to the Gulf States.

Washington, common P.R. Ossining, common P.R.
Cambridge, very common P.R. N. Ohio, common P.R.
Glen Ellyn, common P.R. SE. Minn., P.R., common in
summer, uncommon in winter.

A beautiful, musical, cheerful bird, as sweet of disposition as he is of voice. To hear a merry troop of Goldfinches singing their spring chorus is to hear the very spirit of the season set to music. Their call-note is a questioning _dearie, dearie_, their flight-call _per-chié-o-ree, per-chié-o-ree_, as in long undulations they swing through the air. Their song is suggestive of a Canary's. They are late housekeepers, not nesting before the latter half of June, when 3-6 pale bluish white eggs are laid in a nest warmly lined with plant down.

PINE SISKIN

_Spinus pinus pinus. Case 2. Fig. 55_

A streaked, sparrow-like bird, with yellow
markings in wings and tail which show in flight.
L. 5.

_Range._ North America; nests from northern New
England north to Canada and in the mountains,
south to North Carolina; in winter southward to
the Gulf States.

Washington, irregularly abundant W.V., Oct. 24-May
20. Ossining, irregular P.R. Cambridge, irregular
W.V., Oct. 15-May 10; sometimes very abundant; one
breeding record. N. Ohio, tolerably common W.V.,
Sept. 20-May 15. Glen Ellyn, irregular T.V., Apl.
8-May 24; Sept. 8-Nov. 29. SE. Minn., uncommon
T.V., and W.V. Oct. 20-Apl. 9.

The Siskin belongs in the group of winter visitants whose coming cannot be foretold. Some years it is rare or wanting, others abundant, a flock sometimes, containing several hundred birds. In general habits it resembles the Goldfinch, feeding on weed seeds and catkins, particularly of the alder, and on the seeds of conifers. The call-note is a high _e-eep_; its song like that of the Goldfinch but less musical.

SNOW BUNTING

_Plectrophanes nivalis nivalis. Case 2, Fig. 57_

The prevailing tone of plumage is white,
particularly when the bird is on the wing; the
long, hind toe-nail should be noted. L. 6-3/4.

_Range._ Nests in Arctic regions, winters
irregularly south to Kansas and Virginia.

Washington, W.V., casual, one instance. Ossining,
irregular W.V., Oct. 25-Mch. 22. Cambridge, common
W.V., Nov. 1-Mch. 15; abundant in migrations. N.
Ohio, tolerably common W.V., Dec. 10-Mch. 15. SE.
Minn., common W.V., Oct. 9-Mch. 14.

Snow Buntings live in flocks and love open places, such as Horned Larks frequent, and are often found with them in fields or along the shore. Like the Horned Larks they are walkers, not hoppers, and like most walkers, it is exceptional for them to perch in trees. Hoffman described their notes as "a high, sweet, though slightly mournful _tee_, or _tee-oo_, a sweet rolling whistle, and a harsh _bzz_."

LAPLAND LONGSPUR

_Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus_

A sparrow-like bird, with reddish brown wings, a
black or blackish breast, white, streaked
underparts and a brownish back. L. 6-1/4.

_Range._ Nests in Arctic regions, wintering
southward, rarely and irregularly in the Atlantic
States, to New York (casually South Carolina) and
more commonly in the Mississippi Valley to Ohio
and Texas.

Washington, W.V. one instance, Dec. Ossining.
W.V., casual, Cambridge, one record. N. Ohio,
tolerably common W.V., Nov. 15-Apl. 25. Glen
Ellyn, common W.V., Oct. 16-May 16. SE. Minn.,
common W.V.

Adult male in summer. In winter the throat and breast are mixed black and white.]

A rare visitor from the far North who, if we see it at all will probably be found in the company of Horned Larks or Snow Buntings. It is a browner bird than either of them, so while this is not a case of 'birds of a feather' it _is_ a case of birds of a long hind toe-nail, since all three are distinguished by having a toe-nail actually longer than its toe. All three are walkers, which means also that they are ground-birds rather than tree-birds, and the tracks they leave in the snow, or on the beach, distinguish them from other birds if not from each other.

VESPER SPARROW

_Pooecetes gramineus gramineus. Case 4, Fig. 36; Case 5, Fig. 16_

Paler than any of our other field inhabiting
Sparrows, except the Savannah, which is smaller;
and differing from them all by having a reddish
brown shoulder-patch and white outer
tail-feathers. L. 6.

_Range._ Nests from North Carolina and Kentucky to
Canada; winters from its southern nesting limits
to the Gulf States.

Washington, P.R., very common T.V., less so in
summer and winter. Ossining, tolerably common
S.R., Apl. 2-Nov. 4. Cambridge, common S.R., Apl.
5-Oct. 25. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Mch. 20-Nov. 7.
Glen Ellyn, fairly common S.R., Mch. 21-Oct. 25.
SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 1-Oct. 29.

A Sparrow of broad fields and plains whose song voices the spirit of open places. Neither words nor musical notation can describe it recognizably. It has somewhat the form of the Song Sparrow's song, just as the two birds resemble each other in form but are unlike in detail. One must, therefore, first learn to know the bird--an easy matter, since it is common and can be readily identified by its white outer tail-feathers--and thereafter you will be the richer for a knowledge of this rarely appealing bit of bird music.

The nest, as one might suppose, is built on the ground, and the 4-5 whitish spotted eggs are laid early in May.

IPSWICH SPARROW

_Passerculus princeps_

With a general resemblance to the Savannah Sparrow
(Case 5. Fig. 23) but larger, L. 6-1/4, and
decidedly paler.

_Range._ Nests on Sable Island off Nova Scotia;
winters south, along the coast, regularly to New
Jersey; rarely to Georgia.

Cambridge, casual, two instances, Oct.

Few migratory birds have a more restricted breeding range than the Ipswich Sparrow. Confined to a sandbar island during the summer where it is never out of sight or sound of the sea, it seeks similar haunts during the winter when it is rarely found far from the immediate vicinity of the ocean. In general habits and nesting, it resembles the Savannah Sparrow, of which indeed, it is doubtless an island representative.

SAVANNAH SPARROW

_Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Case 4, Fig. 47; Case 5, Fig. 23_

In general color slightly paler than the Vesper
Sparrow; smaller than that species; no white
tail-feathers; a touch of yellow before the eye
and on the bend of the wing. L. 5-3/4.

_Range._ Nests from Long Island and northern Iowa
to Canada; winters from southern New Jersey and
southern Indiana southward to Mexico.

Washington, abundant T.V., Mch. 20-May 11; Sept.
21-Oct. 23; a few winter. Ossining, common T.V.,
Apl. 3-May 13; Aug. 28-Oct. 28. Cambridge,
abundant T.V., Apl., Oct.; breeds sparingly. N.
Ohio, not common T.V., Mch. 20-May 12. Glen Ellyn,
fairly plentiful S.R., Apl. 8-Oct. 20. SE. Minn.,
common S.R., Apl. 17-Oct. 23.

An abundant Sparrow known only to bird students. It prefers fields to door-yards; lives much on the ground, and its darting flight, followed by a sudden dive to cover, and insignificant song all combine to make it rather difficult of identification. It nests in May, laying 4-5 white, speckled eggs in a nest on the ground.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW

_Ammodramus savannarum australis. Case 7, Fig. 16_

A small, short-tailed Sparrow, without streaks on
the underparts and a back pattern which suggests
'feather scales.' L. 5-1/2.

_Range._ Eastern United States, nesting as far
north as southern Minnesota, and southern New
Hampshire; winters from southern Illinois and
North Carolina to the tropics. The Florida
Grasshopper Sparrow (_A. s. floridanus_) a
smaller, darker race, is resident in the Kissimmee
prairies of south central Florida.

Washington, very common S.R., Apl. 17-Nov. 20.
Ossining common S.R., Apl. 27-Oct. 23. Cambridge,
rare S.R., May 16-Sept. 1. N. Ohio, common S.R.,
Apl. 20-Sept. 20. Glen Ellyn, not common S.R., May
4-Sept. 13. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 25-Sept.
6.

Grasshopper, he is called, because his unmusical little song, _pit-túck, zee-e-e-e-e_, sung from a low perch, resembles the sound produced by that insect. He is a common inhabitant of old fields, where sorrel and daisies grow, and when flushed at one's feet darts away to drop suddenly to the ground beyond. The 4-5, white, spotted eggs are laid in a ground nest in late May or early June.

HENSLOW'S SPARROW

_Passerherbulus henslowi henslowi. Case 7, Fig. 17_

With the general proportions of the Grasshopper
Sparrow, but the underparts distinctly streaked
and the nape olive. L. 5.

_Range._ Nests from southern Missouri and Virginia
to central Minnesota and New Hampshire; winters in
the Southern States.

Washington, common S.R., Apl. 10-Oct. 21.
Ossining, rare T.V., Oct. 5-Oct. 10. Cambridge,
very rare S.R. N. Ohio, S.R., Glen Ellyn, not
common S.R., May 8-Sept. 26. SE. Minn., common
S.R.

Henslow's Sparrow lives in isolated and sometimes widely separated communities, frequenting wet meadows in summer, but visiting, also, dry fields in winter. It has the general habits of the Grasshopper Sparrow and its notes are equally unmusical. The 4-5 grayish white, thickly speckled eggs are laid in a ground nest the latter half of May.

LECONTE'S SPARROW

_Passerherbulus lecontei. Case 7, Fig. 18_

The underparts are but slightly streaked, the
crown is striped, and the nape reddish brown. L.
5.

_Range._ Nesting in the interior of North America
from our border States, northward and east to
Minnesota; migrates southward and south-eastward,
and winters locally from South Carolina to Florida
and Texas.

Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., May 4-?; Sept. 8-Oct.
6. SE. Minn, uncommon S.R., May 1-Oct. 17.

This is the third and rarest member of the trio of small, retiring Sparrows of which the Grasshopper Sparrow is the commonest. It is found east of the Mississippi only in the winter when it may be associated with the Grasshopper and Henslow's Sparrows.

SHARP-TAILED SPARROW

_Passerherbulus caudacutus. Case 6, Fig. 47_

A buffy Sparrow with the underparts sharply
streaked with black. L. 5-3/4.

_Range._ Salt marshes of the Atlantic coast; nests
from Virginia to Massachusetts; winters from New
Jersey to Florida.

Cambridge, formerly common S.R., but occurs no
longer.

An abundant inhabitant of salt marshes. There is, or was, a colony on the Hudson River immediately south of the long pier from which Piermont takes its name, but with this exception I have never seen this Sparrow beyond the sound of the surf. It runs about through the thick marsh grasses taking wing only when hard pressed. Its song is short and insignificant. It nests on the ground, the 3-4 grayish white, finely speckled eggs being laid in late May or early June.

NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW

_Passerherbulus nelsoni nelsoni_

Resembles the Sharp-tailed but is smaller and has
the throat, breast and sides deeper, very
slightly, if at all, streaked with blackish; the
upperparts more broadly margined with whitish. L.
5-1/2.

_Range._ Nests in the interior from South Dakota
northward to Great Slave Lake; migrates south to
Texas and southeast through New York and
Massachusetts to North Carolina and Florida.

Washington, rare T.V., May-Sept. Ossining,
tolerably common T.V., Sept. 28-Oct. 17.
Cambridge, formerly uncommon T.V. Glen Ellyn, one
record, Oct. 2, 1893. SE. Minn., uncommon T.V.

This is a fresh-water representative of the Sharp-tail which nests in the prairie sloughs of the interior and reaches the Atlantic coast during its migrations and in the winter. It resembles the Sharp-tail in habits and when on the coast, may be found associated with it.

The Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow (_P. n. subvirgatus_) is similar to the Sharp-tailed Sparrow but is paler above; the throat, breast and sides are washed with cream-buff and indistinctly streaked with ashy. It nests on the salt marshes of the Atlantic coast from Maine to Cape Breton and in Prince Edward Island; and winters from South Carolina to Florida. In general habits it resembles the two preceding.

The three Sharp-tails may be distinguished chiefly by the color and markings of the breast. In the Sharp-tail these are _pale_ buff _distinctly_ streaked with blackish. In Nelson's they are _deep_ buff lightly if at all streaked. In the Acadian they are cream-buff indistinctly streaked with _grayish_. The Sharp-tail may be known from the other two by its distinct black marks below, but the other two cannot certainly be distinguished from each other in life where both may be expected to occur.

SEASIDE SPARROW

_Passerherbulus maritimus maritimus. Case 6, Fig. 46_

An olive-greenish Sparrow, with a yellow mark
before the eye and on the bend of the wing; the
underparts _not_ distinctly streaked. L. 6.

_Range._ Salt marshes of the Atlantic Coast; nests
from Virginia to Massachusetts; winters from
Virginia to Georgia.

In the Piermont marsh, referred to under the Sharp-tailed Sparrow, there are Seasides as well as Sharp-tails, but this is the only place in which I have seen Seasides away from the sea. There they are abundant in the grassy marshes. Their song is weak and unattractive. Like the Sharp-tail they nest on the ground, laying 3-4 white or bluish white eggs, clouded or finely speckled with cinnamon-brown, the latter part of May.

This northern Seaside Finch is migratory, coming the latter part of April and remaining until the latter half of October, but in the South there are several races which for the most part are resident in the same locality throughout the year. Thus we have:

Macgillivray's Seaside Sparrow (_P. m. macgillivraii_).--Atlantic Coast from North Carolina south to Matanzas Islet, Florida. Dusky Seaside Sparrow (_P. nigrescens_), an almost black species from Merritt's Island, at the head of Indian River, Florida. Cape Sable Sparrow (_P. m. mirabilis_), Cape Sable, Florida. Scott's Seaside Sparrow (_P. m. peninsulæ_), Gulf Coast of Florida from Tampa to St. Marks; Northwest Florida Sparrow (_P. m. juncicola_) Coast of Florida west of St. Marks; Alabama Seaside Sparrow (_P. m. howelli_), Coast of Alabama and Mississippi. Louisiana Seaside Sparrow (_P. m. fisheri_), Coast of Louisiana to Northeast Texas; and Sennett's Seaside Sparrow (_P. m. sennetti_), Coast of Texas from Galveston at least to Corpus Christi.

LARK SPARROW

_Chondestes grammacus grammacus. Case 7, Fig. 19_

The chestnut and white head markings and the
white-tipped tail-feathers are conspicuous
field-marks. L. 6-1/4.

_Range._ Mississippi Valley; nests from Louisiana
to Minnesota and Ohio; winters from Mississippi
southward; casual east of the Alleghanies, chiefly
in the fall.

Washington, A.V., Aug., two captures. N. Ohio,
rare S.R., Apl. 28. Glen Ellyn, local and uncommon
S.R. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 20-Aug. 2.

Few field experiences have given me more pleasure than the discovery near my home at Englewood one November 2, many years ago, of a Lark Finch--one of the 'casuals' which had presumably been carried far from its course by a severe storm of the preceding days. The bird's strongly marked face and conspicuously white-tipped tail-feathers made an impression which testifies to their value as field-characters. In its own range this beautiful Sparrow is a sweet-voiced inhabitant of the fields, nesting on the ground or in low trees and bushes, and laying 3-5 white eggs, spotted and blotched with blackish, in May.

HARRIS'S SPARROW

_Zonotrichia querula. Case 7, Fig. 21_

A large Sparrow, larger even than the Fox Sparrow;
with a pinkish bill, the crown, throat and breast
more or less blackish; cheeks buff. L. 7-1/2.

_Range._ Interior of North America, nesting in
North Carolina; winters from Kansas to Texas; rare
east of Wisconsin. Glen Ellyn, one record, May 19.
SE. Minn., common T.V., May 6; Sept. 21-Oct. 25.

When migrating this Sparrow reminds one of a White-throat. It has a sharp _clink_ note and frequents brier patches and bushy places.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW

_Zonotrichia leucophrys. Case 7, Fig. 22_

Resembles the White-throat but throat gray, like
the breast, space before the eye black, not
yellow, white in the crown more conspicuous. L.
6-3/4.

_Range._ Nests in Canada; winters from Virginia
and Ohio to Mexico; not a common migrant in the
Atlantic States.

Washington, irregularly common W.V. and T.V., May
1-17; Oct. 7-Nov. 20. Ossining, rare T.V., May
9-26; Oct. 3-30. Cambridge, uncommon T.V., May
12-22; Oct. 1-20. N. Ohio, common T.V., Apl.
22-May 20; Sept. 5-Oct. 16. Glen Ellyn, not common
T.V.; chiefly spring, Apl. 24-May 31; Oct. 2-21.
SE. Minn., common T.V., Apl. 30-; Sept. 26-Oct.
14.

This distinguished-looking cousin of our White-throated Sparrow is rare enough in the Eastern States, always to command our attention when we are so fortunate as to meet him. He resembles the White-throat in habits and choice of haunts but his song has a tender, appealing quality, lacking in the White-throat's more cheerful lay, charming as that is.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

_Zonotrichia albicollis. Case 2. Figs. 45, 46; Case 4, Fig. 40_

The adults may be recognized at sight by their
white throat, but this character is less prominent
and sometimes almost wanting in young birds (Fig.
46) which will require close scrutiny. L. 6-3/4.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England and
central Minnesota northward; winters from southern
New England and Ohio to the Gulf.

Washington, very common W.V., abundant T.V., Mch.
18-May; Sept. 15-Dec. 16. Ossining, common T.V.,
Apl. 10-May 21; Sept. 20-Oct. 30; a few winter.
Cambridge, very common T.V., Apl. 25-May 15; Oct.
1-Nov. 10; a few winter. N. Ohio, common T.V.,
Apl. 1-May 21; Sept. 10-Nov. 7. Glen Ellyn, common
T.V., Apl. 9-May 26; Sept. 13-Nov. 7. SE. Minn.,
common T.V., Apl. 8-; Sept. 2-Nov. 13.

This clear-voiced whistler is known to many persons who have never seen it. When anyone returning from the bird's summer range tells me "I heard a bird sing like this," I know before he whistles a note that he will probably imitate the White-throat. Fortunately the song has so much character and its intervals conform so closely to those of our musical scale, that a recognizable imitation of it is within the power of everyone. There is much variation in the arrangement of the notes and migrants never seem to sing with the power of nesting birds, nor do fall songs compare in volume or execution with those of spring. The call-note is a characteristic sharp _clink_.

The White-throat is abundant, migrating and wintering in companies which frequent bushy places, hedgerows and undergrowth generally. The nest is placed on the ground or in bushes in late May or early June. The eggs. 4-5 in number, are bluish white, speckled or blotched with brown.

TREE SPARROW

_Spizella monticola monticola. Case 2, Fig. 44; Case 4, Fig. 46_

A dusky spot in the center of the breast and a
reddish brown cap and streak behind the eye are
distinguishing characters. L. 6-1/2.

_Range._ Nests in Canada; winters from southern
Canada south to Arkansas and South Carolina.

Washington, abundant W.V., Oct.-Apl. 1. Ossining,
common W.V., Oct. 10-Apl. 27. Cambridge, common
W.V., abundant T.V., Oct. 25-Nov. 25; Mch. 20-Apl.
20. N. Ohio, abundant W.V., Oct. 24-May 3. Glen
Ellyn, common W.V., Oct. 4-Apl. 28. SE. Minn.,
common T.V., Oct. 6-May 5; a few winter.

From October to April companies of Tree Sparrows harvest the season's crop of weed seeds, feeding usually near woods or hedge-rows to which they go to rest and roost. Their merry chatter is one of the season's most cheerful notes, and in the spring we may hear their canary-like song.

CHIPPING SPARROW

_Spizella passerina passerina. Case 4, Fig. 45; Case 5, Fig. 31_

In summer, the chestnut cap, black bill, and
whitish line over the eye mark the 'Chippy'; but
in the fall and winter the crown is like the back,
the line over the eye is brownish, and the bill is
brown; but the gray rump, shown well in flight, is
a good character the year around. L. 5-1/2.

_Range._ Nests from Georgia and Mississippi to
Canada; winters from South Carolina to the Gulf.

Washington, common S.R., abundant T.V., Mch.
9-Nov. 11, occasionally winters. Ossining, common
S.R., Apl. 5-Nov. 7. Cambridge, abundant S.R.,
Apl. 12-Oct. 25. N. Ohio, abundant S.R., Mch.
23-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, not very common S.R., Apl.
5-Nov. 5. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl. 8-Oct. 26.

The friendly Chippy is the most familiar and domestic of any of our native Sparrows. He makes tentative visits to our piazzas and, cats permitting, will take up his residence there, building a neat, hair-lined nest in the vines or a nearby bush. Unassuming in voice as he is in manner, his _Chippy-chippy-chippy_, many times repeated, expresses contentment, even if it does not attain high musical rank. Madame Chippy has fine taste in eggs, laying, in early May, little blue gems, beautifully marked with brown or black.

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW

_Spizella pallida. Case 6, Fig. 48_

The Clay-colored Sparrow resembles a winter
Chipping Sparrow, but is paler and has a white
line over the eye and a brownish rump. L. 5-1/2.

_Range._ Interior states east to Illinois; winters
from Texas southward. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl.
26-Oct. 19.

A Chipping Sparrow of the Plains which nests on the ground and in low bushes. It is not common east of the Mississippi.

FIELD SPARROW

_Spizella pusilla pusilla. Case 4, Fig. 43; Case 5, Fig. 14_

The upperparts are brighter reddish brown than in
any of our other Sparrows, and the bill is
'pinker.' L. 5-1/2.

_Range._ Nests from northern Florida and central
Louisiana to Minnesota and Maine; winters from New
Jersey and Illinois to the Gulf States.

Washington, very common P.R. Ossining, common
S.R., Apl. 2-Nov. 7. Cambridge, common S.R., Apl.
12-Nov. 1; casual in winter. N. Ohio, abundant in
summer, Mch. 6-Oct. 25. Glen Ellyn, tolerably
common S.R., Mch. 27-Oct. 11. SE. Minn., common
S.R., Apl. 1-Dec. 28.

'Bush Sparrow,' Mr. Roosevelt always called this bird, and the name gives a better conception of its haunts than that of Field Sparrow, since it is found in bush-grown fields. From a bush-top it sings its clearly whistled, sweet, appealing song, varying the relation of notes and trills, but never their musical quality. In a bush also it nests, laying 3-5 white eggs, marked with reddish brown, in May.

SLATE-COLORED JUNCO

_Junco hyemalis hyemalis. Case 2, Fig. 43; Case 4, Fig. 41_

The plumage of the female is tinged with brownish,
but the prevailing tone is slate-gray, unlike that
of any of our other Sparrows. The white outer-tail
feathers are conspicuously flashed in flight. L.
6-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from northern New England and
northern New York to Canada and southward in the
mountains to Pennsylvania; winters in all the
Eastern States. The Carolina Junco (_J. h.
carolinensis_), a slightly larger race without a
brownish tinge, nests in the higher parts of the
Alleghanies from Maryland to northern Georgia,
descending to the adjacent lowlands in winter.

Washington, abundant W.V., Sept. 26-May 12.
Ossining, common W.V., Sept. 19-May 4. Cambridge,
rather common W.V., abundant T.V., Sept. 20-Nov.
25; Mch. 20-Apl. 20. N. Ohio, abundant W.V., Oct.
2-May 5. Glen Ellyn, W.V., abundant spring and
fall, Aug. 30-May 13, SE, Minn., common T.V., Mch.
4-; Sept. 20-Nov. 12.

Gray skies and a snow-covered earth are the Junco colors, and when he flashes them along the hedgerows and wood borders we know that although it is only late September, winter will soon be with us. From that time until April the Junco is of our commonest birds. He visits our food-shelf and roosts in our evergreens, becoming almost as domestic as the Chipping Sparrow. The Junco's call-notes are a sharp _tsip_, a contented _chew-chew-chew_, and a sharp kissing call. Its modest, musical little trill we shall not hear until spring. The nest is built on the ground, and the 4-5 white, speckled, or spotted, eggs are laid late in May.

BACHMAN'S SPARROW

_Peucæa æstivalis bachmani_

With a general resemblance to a Field Sparrow but
bill black and larger, cheeks and underparts more
buffy, tail shorter, no evident wing bars.

_Range._ Southeastern United States from central
Georgia to Virginia and from northwestern Florida
to central Illinois; winters from North Carolina
to northern Florida.

Where 'scrub' oaks grow beneath the pines, or post, or white oaks form open woods, there one may look for this rather retiring, sweet-voiced Sparrow. If one can imagine a Hermit Thrush singing the Field Sparrow's chant, he will have some conception of the rare quality of Bachman's Sparrow's song. The nest is built on the ground, the white unmarked eggs being laid early in May.

The Pine Woods Sparrow (_P. æ. æstivalis_), is a darker race, more streaked above with black. It is resident in Florida (except the northwestern part) and southern Georgia where it frequents pine forests undergrown with scrub palmetto.

SONG SPARROW

_Melospiza melodia melodia. Case 2, Fig. 34; Case 4, Fig. 42_

Streaked below, with a conspicuous spot in the
center of the breast.

_Range._ Most of North America, the eastern form
west to the Rockies, nesting from Virginia and
Missouri to Canada and wintering from Illinois and
Massachusetts to the Gulf.

Washington, common P.R., abundant T.V., Mch. and
Oct. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, very
abundant S.R., Mch. 10-Nov. 1; locally common W.V.
N. Ohio, P.R., abundant in summer, common in
winter; Glen Ellyn, common S.R. Feb. 12-Nov. 2.
SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 16-Nov. 11.

If the so-called 'English' Sparrow is the European Sparrow, the Song Sparrow is the American Sparrow. He is found in every State and from the Valley of Mexico to Alaska. He is abundant, musical, and familiar and probably better known than any other member of his family native to this country. His is one of the first birds' songs to be heard in the spring, and the last in the fall, and when in midsummer, the adults, while molting, are silent, the rambling, formless song of the young may be heard.

Usually the Song Sparrow is found near water and not far from bushes into which he flies when alarmed. Then we hear his characteristic call-note, an impatient _chimp_, _chimp_, unlike that of any other of our Sparrows. The nest is built on the ground and the 4-5 bluish white brown-marked eggs are laid late in April.

LINCOLN'S SPARROW

_Melospiza lincolni lincolni. Case 7, Fig. 15_

A broad band of buff across the streaked breast.

_Range._ Chiefly western United States; in the
East, nests from northern New York and northern
Minnesota into Canada; winters from Mississippi to
Central America; rare east of the Alleghanies.

Washington, rare T.V., May 8-21; Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
Ossining, rare T.V., Sept. 29-Oct. 16. Cambridge,
not uncommon T.V., May 15-May 25; Sept. 14-Oct.
10. N. Ohio, tolerably common T.V., Apl. 25-May
25. Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., fall records
only, Sept. 11-Oct. 9. SE. Minn., common T.V.,
Apl. 17-; Sept. 10-Oct. 30.

We know the species only as a rare, retiring migrant, frequenting hedgerows, and undergrowth. I have never heard its song while migrating.

SWAMP SPARROW

_Melospiza georgiana. Case 4, Fig. 44; Case 5, Fig. 22_

Note the bright chestnut cap, grayish, unstreaked
breast, and reddish brown rump of the summer
plumage; in winter, the crown is darker and
streaked with black. L. 5-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from New Jersey and Illinois to
Canada; winters from Nebraska and New Jersey to
the Gulf.

Washington, very common T.V., Apl. 12-May 19;
Sept, 28-Oct. 29; a few winter. Ossining,
tolerably common S.R., Apl. 4-Dec. 2; a few
winter. Cambridge, abundant S.R., Apl. 12-Nov. 10;
a few winter. N. Ohio, common T.V., Mch. 23-May
20. Glen Ellyn, tolerably common T.V., Apl. 2-May
26; Sept. 2-Oct. 24; possibly S.R. SE. Minn.,
common S.R., Apl. 5-Nov. 18.

The Swamp Sparrow is a Sparrow of the marshes whose _tweet-tweet-tweet_ many times repeated, is associated with the music of Marsh Wrens. It nests on the ground in May, laying eggs not unlike those of the Song Sparrow.

FOX SPARROW

_Passerella iliaca iliaca. Case 4, Fig. 37; Case 5, Fig. 7_

A large, bright, reddish brown Sparrow, which,
because of its red-brown tail, and in spite of its
stout bill, is sometimes mistaken for the Hermit
Thrush. L. 7-1/2.

_Range._ Nests in northern Canada; winters from
Ohio and Maryland to the Gulf States.

Washington, very abundant T.V., Mch. 13-May 11;
Oct. 23-Nov. 15: a few winter. Ossining, tolerably
common T.V., Mch. 4-Apl. 20; Oct. 14-Nov. 28.
Cambridge, abundant T.V., Mch. 15-Apl. 12; Oct.
20-Nov. 15; occasional in winter. N. Ohio, common
T.V., Mch. 12-Apl. 23; Oct. 1-Nov. 16. Glen Ellyn,
fairly common T.V., Mch. 11-Apl. 28; Sept. 22-Nov.
8. SE. Minn., common T.V., Mch. 12-; Sept. 17-Nov.
12.

A vigorous scratcher in the undergrowth who, using both feet at once, kicks the leaves out behind him; a master musician among our Sparrows whose loud, clear, joyous notes form one of our most notable bird songs. We hear it only for a brief time in spring and fall as the birds pass us on their migration.

TOWHEE

_Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus. Case 4, Figs. 32, 33; Case 6. Fig. 51_

The female is brown where the male is black; both
are unmistakable L. 8-1/4.

_Range._ Nests from northern Georgia and central
Kansas; winters from Ohio and Potomac Valleys to
the Gulf.

Washington, common S.R., very common T.V., Apl.
5-Oct. 21; a few winter. Ossining, common S.R.,
Apl. 21-Oct. 31. Cambridge, common S.R., Apl.
25-Oct. 15. N. Ohio, common S.R., Mch. 10-Oct. 25.
Glen Ellyn, not common, S.R., Mch. 30-Nov. 18, SE.
Minn., common S.R., Apl. 11-Nov. 8.

_Chewi['n]k, towheé_, the clear, emphatic, strongly accented call announces the presence of a bird whose colors are as distinctive as its notes. The Towhee feeds on the ground in and near bushy places, but when the desire to sing comes upon him he leaves his lowly haunts and taking a more or less exposed perch, fifteen to twenty feet from the ground, utters his _sweet-bird-sin-n-n-g_, with an earnestness which goes far to atone for his lack of striking musical ability. The nest is built on the ground and the 4-5 white, finely speckled eggs are laid during the first half of May.

The White-eyed Towhee (_P. e. alleni_) of Florida and the coast region north to Charleston, South Carolina, has the eye yellowish instead of red and the white markings are more restricted. Its call is higher than that of the northern bird and its song shorter.

CARDINAL

_Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis. Case 4, Figs. 34, 35._

The male, with his conspicuous crest and bright
colors, can be confused with no other species; the
female is much duller and the crest is less
prominent but still evident. L. 8-1/4.

_Range._ Resident from the Gulf States to southern
New York and northern Ohio; rarely found further
north.

Washington, common P.R.; less common than
formerly. Ossining, A.V. Cambridge, irregular but
not very infrequent at all seasons. N. Ohio,
common P.R. Glen Ellyn, rare S.R. SE. Minn., rare.

Next to the Mockingbird's medley, the rich, mellow whistle of the Cardinal is the most prominent bird voice in the choir of southern songsters. Passing most of the time in the undergrowth, where, in spite of his brilliant colors, he readily conceals himself, he makes no attempt, when singing, to hide his fiery plumes, but selecting a conspicuous perch, challenges the attention of the world.

The female Cardinal also sings, but her song has much less volume than that of her mate, and is more rarely heard. The call-note of both sexes is a minute; sharp, _cheep_, which one would attribute to a bird half their size. The Cardinal nests in bushes, laying 3-4 whitish eggs speckled and spotted with brown, in April.

The Florida Cardinal (_C. c. floridanus_), a slightly smaller, deeper colored (especially in the female) race of the preceding, inhabits the peninsula of Florida.

BLUE GROSBEAK

_Guiraca cærulea cærulea. Case 6, Figs. 52, 53_

Should be confused only with the Indigo Bunting,
but it is larger and the male is darker and has
brown wing-bars. L. 7.

_Range._ Nests from Florida to Maryland and
southern Illinois; winters in the tropics,
uncommon east of the Alleghanies.

Washington, very uncommon, S.R., May 1-Sept. 20.
Cambridge, A.V., one instance, May.

The Blue Grosbeak is an unfamiliar bird to most eastern students. Ridgway states that its haunts resemble those of the Field Sparrow or Indigo Bunting. Its call is a strong, harsh _ptchick_, its song a beautiful, but rather feeble warble. The nest is usually built in bushes and the 3-4 pale bluish white eggs are laid in May.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK

_Zamelodia ludoviciana. Case 7, Figs. 25, 26_

The male needs no introduction; the streaked
plumage of the female betrays her Sparrow
ancestry; the white stripe over her eye is a
conspicuous mark. Young males in the fall resemble
the female, but have a rose-tinted breast. L. 8.

_Range._ Nests from central Kansas and central New
Jersey north to Canada, and, in the mountains,
south to northern Georgia; winters in the tropics.

Washington, rather common T.V., May 1-30; Aug.
29-Oct. 6. Ossining, tolerably common S.R., May
3-Oct. 1. Cambridge, very common S.R., May
10-Sept. 10. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl. 27-Sept.
15. Glen Ellyn, fairly common S.R., common T.V.,
Apl. 27-Sept. 28. SE. Minn., common S.R., Apl.
27-Sept. 23.

Distinguished alike by plumage and song, the Rose-breast is one of our most notable bird citizens. His song resembles in form that of the Robin, but has a more lyrical, flowing, joyous quality, and, unlike the Robin, he often sings while flying. The call-note of both sexes is a sharp _peek_ which, like the Cardinal's _cheep_, seems too small for the bird.

The Rose-breast lives and nests in woodland, particularly second-growths, building a frail nest ten to twenty feet from the ground. The 4-5 blue, brown-marked eggs are laid the latter half of May.

INDIGO BUNTING

_Passerina cyanea. Case 7, Figs. 23, 24_

The male, well seen, is unmistakable. The female
is very 'sparrowy' and, unless one gets a
suggestion of blue in her plumage, can best be
identified by her unsparrow-like, sharp _pit_. L.
5-1/2.

_Range._ Nests from Georgia and Louisiana to
Canada; winters in the tropics.

Washington, common S.R., Apl. 29-Oct. 9. Ossining,
common S.R., May 4-Oct. 17. Cambridge, common
S.R., May 15-Oct. 1. N. Ohio, common S.R., Apl.
26-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, fairly common S.R., May
1-Sept. 22. SE. Minn., common S.R. Apl. 28-Oct. 2.

"July, July, summer-summer's here; morning, noontide, evening, list to me" the Indigo sings in rather hard but brilliant little voice. To me the words express the rhythm as well as the spirit of the song. We hear them most often in bushy fields and open second-growths, along hedge-rows or from briery clumps in which the bird's nest may be hidden. The pale, bluish white eggs are laid the latter half of May.

PAINTED BUNTING

_Passerina ciris. Case 6, Figs. 49, 50_

The male is one of our most brilliantly colored
birds, the female has the color of a Vireo but the
bill of a Sparrow.

_Range._ Southern States north to southeastern
North Carolina and southern Kansas; winters from
southern Florida southward.