. Our own birds : a familiar natural history of the birds of the United States . )st impossible in the same flock to procure more -__ _ than a few specimens whose markings andcolors are preciselysimilar. They are forthe most part white,with various inter-mixtures of fawncolor and black uponthe head, backjshoul-ders,and wings. Somespecimens are purewhite, others whiteand black only, whilein some the fawn col-or Bunting. \Ve must not con- found the Snow Bunting with our familiar and wel-come little winter visitant, the Snow Bird. Althoughboth belong to the same family, they dif
. Our own birds : a familiar natural history of the birds of the United States . )st impossible in the same flock to procure more -__ _ than a few specimens whose markings andcolors are preciselysimilar. They are forthe most part white,with various inter-mixtures of fawncolor and black uponthe head, backjshoul-ders,and wings. Somespecimens are purewhite, others whiteand black only, whilein some the fawn col-or Bunting. \Ve must not con- found the Snow Bunting with our familiar and wel-come little winter visitant, the Snow Bird. Althoughboth belong to the same family, they differ greatly intheir size, appearance, and manners, the latter beingfully one-third smaller. The predominating color ofits plumage is a deep leaden brown, with white onthe breast and sides, and two white feathers on eachside of the tail. This little bird comes to us just asthe ground is being strewn with the autumn leaves,and, continuing during the severest winters, leavesus again for the north early in the Spring. It is asprightly and active as well as a social and confiding. THE SONG SPARROW. 81 \l bird, entering the city in great numbers, so that thereis scarcely an open garden where they may not befound picking up the crumbs and pieces of wastefood that are thrown out. In the country they some-times mingle in small flocks with the Tree Sparrowsand Titmice. They seem particularly active justafter a fresh fall of snow, flying about from bush tobush with apparent delight, twittering and chirpingwith great animation. We cannot help wonderingwhat a winter would be without the Snow Birds; forhowever we may appear to be indifferent to theirexistence, they cer-tainly exert a silentinfluence upon us,in enlivening andanimating a scenewhich without them ; might be dreary and UuU. Among the manybeautiful little Spar-rows aod—Emcliesthat tenant ourgroves during thesummer months, theSong Sparrow wad ;ipTnf|;p;QRir(]prP- sent themselves as objects peculiarly worthy of our attention.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1879
