Part 58

Field Sparrow, Fringilla pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 229.

165. 10. Emberiza socialis, Wils. Chipping Bunting.--Chipping Sparrow.

Plate CIV. Male.

Bill with the upper mandible blackish-brown; upper part of the head bright chestnut-red, part of forehead black; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, the throat, and fore part of the breast, pale bluish-grey; rump bluish-grey, streaked with dusky; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with yellowish-grey; two white bands on the wing; breast and sides pale grey, inclining to white. This species closely resembles the last in colour, but may be distinguished by the black on the forehead, and the dusky colour of the bill.

Male, 5-1/4, 8.

Abundant throughout the United States. Winter resident in all the Southern States. Not seen in Texas, Nova Scotia, or Labrador.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 127.

Fringilla socialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 497.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 21; v. v. p. 517.

166. 11. Emberiza Canadensis, Lath. Canada Bunting.--Tree Sparrow.

Plate CLXXXVIII. Male and Female.

Bill with the upper mandible blackish-brown above, yellowish-red beneath; upper part of the head bright chestnut-red; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, the throat and fore part of the breast pale bluish-grey; rump pale yellowish-grey, faintly streaked with dusky; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with greyish-white; two white bands on the wing; breast and sides pale grey, inclining to white, the latter tinged with yellowish-brown.

This species is much larger than the last, wants the black spot on the forehead, and has the wing-bands more conspicuous.

Male, 6-1/4, 8-3/4.

Rarely reaches the Carolinas during winter, or Louisville on the Ohio. Breeds from Maine northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla arborea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 12.

Fringilla canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Emberiza canadensis, Tree Bunting, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 252.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla canadensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 495.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 511; v. v. p. 504.

GENUS III. NIPHÆA, Aud. SNOW-BIRD.

Bill short, rather small, conical, acute; upper mandible a little broader than the lower, its dorsal line straight, slightly declinate at the tip, the sides convex, the edges nearly straight, slightly inflected, but overlapping; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head broadly ovate; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus rather short, stout, with seven scutella; toes rather strong, the first stout, the lateral equal. Claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings rather short, curved, rounded, second, third, and fourth quills longest, first longer than fifth. Tail rather long, slightly emarginate. Roof of upper mandible concave, with thin ridges, and a small knob at the base; tongue narrow, deep, grooved above, tapering to a horny point; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach rather small, roundish, muscular; intestine rather short; cœca very small. Name from [Greek: Niphos], snow.

167. 1. Niphæa hyemalis, Linn. Common Snow-Bird.

Plate XIII. Male and Female.

Male with the head, hind neck, fore part of the breast, back, wings, and upper parts of the sides, greyish-black, deeper on the head and throat; quills margined with whitish; tail with the two lateral feathers on each side, and a patch on the inner web of the next white, as are the breast and abdomen. Female lighter grey, on the back tinged with brown.

Male, 6-1/4, 9.

Distributed, in winter, over the Southern, Western, and Middle Districts, as far as the base of the Rocky Mountains, and in the Fur Countries. Breeds from Maryland eastward, on the mountains. Very abundant.