62 FOX-COLOURED SPARROW.
Bill dark brown above, the base of the lower mandible yellow, its tip
bluish; iris deep brown; feet flesh-coloured; upper part of the head
and neck smoke-grey ; back dusky brown ; rump, tail, wing-coverts, and
outer part of the quills bright ferruginous; tips of the coverts whitish,
forming a narrow bar, space from the upper mandible to the eye pale
reddish ; ear-coverts chestnut. The ground colour of the lower parts is
white anteriorly, pale greyish behind; the sides of the neck, the throat,
and flanks, marked with triangular spots of chestnut, which are darker
on the hind parts.
Length 7£ inches; extent of wings 101; bill T% along the ridge, J7j
along the gap ; tarsus T
8
3 , middle toe 1.
Adult Female. Plate CVIIT. Fig. 2.
The Female differs little from the Male, the tints being merely somewhat
fainter. Length 7i inches.
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T H E S A V A N N A H F I N C H .
FRINGILLA SAVANNA, WILS.
P L A T E C I X . MALE AND FEMALE.
THIS species is one of the most abundant of our Finches. It is also
one of the hardiest, standing the winter of our Middle Districts, ranging
as far north as Labrador, and crowding our old fields and open woods
of the south, from October to April. It is nearly allied to the Yellow-
Winged Sparrow and Henslow's Bunting, but differs from both in many
important particulars.
It confines itself principally to the ground, where it runs with extreme
agility, lowering its body as if to evade your view, and when in
danger hiding as closely as a mouse, nay, seldom taking to wing, unless
much alarmed or suddenly surprised. It is fondest of dry, rather elevated
situations, not very distant from the sea shore, and although it
travels much, I have never found one in deep woods. During winter it
associates with the Field Sparrow and Bay-winged Sparrow, and with
these it is often seen in open plains of great extent, scantily covered with
tall grasses or low clumps of trees and briars. Regardless of'man, it approaches
the house, frequents the garden, and alights on low buildings
with as little concern as if in the most retired places.
It migrates by day, when it suffers from the attacks of the Marsh,
the Pigeon and the Sharp-shinned Hawks, and rests on the ground
by night, when it*is liable to be preyed upon by the insidious Minx.
Its flight, although rather irregular, is considerably protracted, for it
crosses I believe without resting the broad expanse of the Gulf of St
Lawrence. In June 1833, I found it gradually moving northward as
I advanced towards the country of Labrador; and although a great number
tarry and breed in all intermediate places from Maryland to that
dreary region, I saw them there in abundance.
The nest of the Savannah Finch is placed on the ground at the foot
of a tuft of rank grass, or of a low bush. It is formed of dry grasses,
and is imbedded in the soil, or among the grass, the inner part being
finished with straw and blades of a finer texture. The eggs, from four
to six in number, are of a pale bluish colour, softly mottled with pur