The RING-SPARROW, F. petronia, is six inches long, grayish-brown above and white beneath; found in Middle Europe.

The AMADAVADE, or AMADUVAT, F. amadava, is a small kind of sparrow, scarcely four inches long, brown above and paler beneath, spotted with white; the rump red, the tail and wings black, the bill bright red. It is common in Southern Asia, and is imported into America and Europe in large numbers. It has a pleasing song, and if twenty or thirty are in a cage together they will all sit on one perch and sing in succession.

The JAVA SPARROW, Oryzornis oryzivora, five inches long; of a delicate bluish color; feeds on rice; it has a monotonous song of two notes; it is a native of Southern Asia and Java; many are imported into Europe, the bird being valued for its beauty.

The American species of Sparrow are not numerous: the SONG-SPARROW, F. melodia, is one of our more common and pleasing species. It is six and a half inches long; above it is streaked with red and brown; lower parts white. It builds on the ground under a tuft of grass; eggs four or five; two or three broods reared in a season. Wilson says: "It may be said to be partially migratory, many passing to the south in the month of November, and many of them still remaining with us in low, close, sheltered meadows and swamps, during the whole of winter. It is the first singing bird in spring, taking precedence even of the pewee and bluebird. Its song continues occasionally during the whole summer and fall, and is sometimes heard in the depth of winter. The notes, or chant, are short, but very sweet, resembling the beginning of the canary's song, and frequently repeated, generally from the branches of a bush or small tree, where it sits chanting for an hour together. It is fond of frequenting the borders of rivers, meadows, swamps, and such like watery places; and if wounded, and unable to fly, will readily take to the water, and swim with considerable rapidity. In the great cypress swamps of the Southern States, in the depth of winter, I observed multitudes of these birds mixed with several other species; for these places appear to be the grand winter rendezvous of almost all our sparrows."

The CHIPPING-BIRD, F. socialis—Emberiza socialis of De Kay—is five inches long; frontlet black; ash-colored above; beneath white. Wilson says: "Though destitute of the musical talents of the former species, it is, perhaps, more generally known, because more familiar, and even domestic. He inhabits, during summer, the city, in common with man, building in the branches of the trees with which our streets and gardens are ornamented, and gleaning up crumbs from our yards, and even our doors, to feed his more advanced young with. I have known one of these birds attend regularly every day, during a whole summer, while the family were at dinner under a piazza fronting the garden."

The FOX-COLORED Sparrow, or FINCH, F. iliaca, is seven and a half inches long; above varied with reddish-brown and ash; beneath white: found from Texas to Labrador.

The GRASS-BIRD or BAY-WINGED SPARROW-Fringilla graminea of De Kay-is five and a half inches long; above gray, varied with dusky; breast and flanks streaked with brown; nest placed on the ground; ranges along the Atlantic States from Texas to latitude 57° north; many winter as far north as Pennsylvania. This is the Grass-Finch of Nuttall, and the Bay-winged Bunting of Audubon.

The WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW-F. leucophrys of De Kay-six and a half inches long; the head white; above brown and white; beneath pale ash; it is a northern species, migrating south in winter, as far as 28°.

The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, F. Pennsylvanica, is six inches long; above rufous, black and olive-brown; beneath slate color; found, in winter, in Maryland and Pennsylvania; in summer, from Texas to Canada.

Other species are the F. bicolor, seven inches long; found on the Western prairies: F.atricapilla, eight inches long; found on the Rocky Mountains: F. cinerea, six inches long; found in Texas and on the Columbia River: F. Townsendii, seven inches long; found in the Rocky Mountains: F. Mortoni, five and a half inches long; found in California: F. Texensis, four and a half inches long; found in Texas: F. Harrisi, seven inches long; found on the upper Missouri. Several of the preceding are ranged by Audubon and some others under the name of Finches.

Genus STRUTHUS: Struthus.-This includes the COMMON SNOW-BIRD of Europe and the United States: the SNOW-BUNTING, or SNOW-FOWL of England-Snow-Flake of the Hebrides; Tawny-Bunting of Pennant-S. hyemalis-Plectrophanes nivalis of Yarrell-six inches long; color bluish-black; abdomen and lateral tail-feathers white; it is a shy, timorous bird, seldom seen except during snow-storms, when it appears in flocks around the houses. At this time it presents much diversity of plumage, some being almost white, and others partially white. It is a northern

bird, common to both continents, being found as far north as Greenland, Spitzbergen, the Faroe Islands, and Lapland. It migrates southward, always by night, on the approach of winter, and some go as far as England and France in Europe, and Virginia in America. Although they mostly breed in high northern regions, still some nests are found in most of the northern Atlantic States. The eggs, usually four, are yellowish white, spotted. These birds feed on grass-seeds, berries, insects, and larvæ. The S. Oreganus, six inches long; reddish-brown above; black below; is found on the Columbia River and in Texas.

Genus LINOTA: Linota.—This includes the COMMON LINNET of Europe, L. cannabina—Linotte of the French-four and three-quarter inches long; chestnut-brown above; breast red; under parts pale wood-brown. It is a gay and active bird, with a sprightly and agreeable song, its voice. being loud and flute-like; it is fond of the seed of flax, whence its popular name; it feeds also on various other seeds. The nest, made of twigs and grass, lined with wool, is usually placed in a furze or other bush. It is common all over Europe; it is familiarly known in England, whence we find constant reference to it in English literature. The variations of plumage which occur in this bird at different seasons and periods of life, have caused it to be known by the various names of the Brown, Gray, and Rose Linnet; it is also called the Whin Linnet, the Greater Redpole, and

the Lintie or Lintwhite, the last two being terms applied to it in Scotland more particularly; in the poetry of Burns, and other sweet singers of the north, these names frequently occur:

"I wadna gie the Lintie's sang

Sae merry on the broomy lea,
For a' the notes that ever rang

From a' the harps o' minstrelsie.
Mair dear to me, where bush or breer
Amang the pathless heather grows,
The Lintie's wild sweet note to hear,
As on the ev’nin' breeze it flows."

The Linnet is a permanent inhabitant of Middle and Southern Europe, frequenting the sea-shore in mid-winter.

The MEALY REDPOLE, or RED-POLL, L. canescens, is five and a quarter inches long; it has a mixture of dark and light brown above; beneath pale brownish-white, streaked with brown; crown crimson; Yarrell says it feeds on the seeds of forest trees, and De Kay on berries; it is distributed throughout the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America; found, though rarely, in England, where it is sometimes called Stone-Redpole. It appears occasionally in the United States as far south as New York and New Jersey.

The LESSER REDPOLE, L. linaria, is four and a quarter inches long; a mixture of dark and light brown above; breast red; under parts brownish-white; feeds on the buds of trees. It is a hardy northern species, found in both continents, inhabiting even Lapland, Greenland, and Spitzbergen, and is a permanent resident of the Fur Countries. In the winter, numbers of them migrate southward, proceeding in the United States as far as Pennsylvania, at this time moving in considerable flocks; in Europe it proceeds south as far as Rome and Sicily. This and the preceding are arranged by Audubon and De Kay under the generic name of Linaria.

The MOUNTAIN LINNET, L. montium, is five inches long, the tail being of unusual length; dark and light brown above; dull brownish-white beneath; feeds on small seeds; inhabits Europe. generally; moves from the northern regions in winter to the south in flocks with sparrows and snow-buntings. It frequently repeats the note twite, twite, whence this word is one of its popular English names.

THE FINCHES.

Genus CARDUELIS: Carduelis.-This includes the COMMON GOLDFINCH OF THISTLE-FINCH of Europe Chardonneret of the French-C. elegans, five inches long; top of the head black; above brown; beneath white. It has a gay plumage, lively habits, and an agreeable song, and is a general cage favorite; it frequents gardens; builds its nest in a thick bush; eggs four to five.

This bird, as well as linnets and canaries, has been taught to perform various ingenious tricks; it is common throughout Europe.

The SISKIN, C. spinus, is four and a half inches long; greenish-olive above, streaked with dusky black; beneath yellowish-green; feeds upon seeds. It is an attractive bird in regard both to its plumage and its song, the latter being generally little more than a continuous chirrup, resembling the noise made by a stocking-loom, a peculiarity which renders it a favorite with stocking-weavers. It imitates the songs of tits, larks, and chaffinches, but does not seem able to learn to whistle a tune. It sings throughout the year, except during the moulting season, and by its continual twittering invites all the birds in the aviary to sing. When taken, it feels the loss of freedom so little as to eat as soon as put into the cage, and on the second day to manifest no sign of alarm if any one approaches. It may be taught to draw water, and many tricks of a similar character; and in winter may be trained to come and go, by placing the cage outside the window, and strewing poppy and hemp-seed before the open door. It generally comes back, and brings several comrades with it. It breeds in confinement, and paired with canaries produces a hybrid valued for its song. The Siskin is a northern European bird, migrating to the south in winter, and returning in the spring.

The CANARY-BIRD OF CANARY-FINCH-Fringilla Canaria of Bechstein-is a native of the Canary Islands, where it breeds on the banks of rivulets. It is said to have been introduced from thence into Europe in the sixteenth century by a ship bound for Leghorn, and which foundered near the island of Elba. Being here set at liberty, they bred on this island; from thence they were taken to Italy, and in the course of years spread over Europe. The original color of the bird was gray, inclining to green on the lower parts of the body, but this has undergone a complete alteration from domestication and change of climate. The length of this bird is five inches; mules have been obtained by breeding with the goldfinch, siskin, green-finch, serin-finch, linnet, lesser redpole, and citril-finch, and these hybrids propagate their kind.

The canary has always been a favorite cage bird, not only on account of the beauty of its plumage and the excellence of its song, but also for its docility, affectionate disposition, and the readiness with which it breeds in confinement. Another source of gratification connected with this bird is the observation of its peculiarities of disposition. Some are melancholy, others lively; some of a peaceful, others of a quarrelsome disposition; some docile, others stupid; some eager to pair, others delighting in solitude, &c. Their chief recommendation, however, consists, beyond doubt, in their loud, lively, and various song, which is continued throughout the year in some cases, even in the moulting seasons. Some, which are very much esteemed, will sing even at night, if a light be placed near their cage; a peculiarity which, though natural in some, is in most the result of long training. The singers of the Tyrol, so called from the country where they are caught, which imitate the nightingale's song, are considered to hold the first rank; and next to these the English canaries, which have acquired the warbling of the wood-lark. In Thuringia those are most esteemed which, instead of a sonorous song of their own, have been taught to descend through the notes of an octave in a clear silvery tone, occasionally introducing a trumpet-like song. Buffon contrasts the canary and nightingale as follows: "If the latter is the enchantress of the woods, the former is the musician of the chamber. The first owes all to nature; the second derives something from our arts. With less strength of organ, less compass of voice, and less variety of note, the canary-bird has a better ear, greater facility of imitation, and more memory; and as the difference of genius, especially among the lower animals, depends in a great measure on the difference that exists among them with regard to the perfection of their senses, the canarybird, whose organ of hearing is more attentive, and more susceptible of receiving and retaining foreign impressions, becomes accordingly more social, more tame, and more familiar. It is capable of gratitude, and even of attachment; its caresses are endearing, its little humors are innocent, and its anger neither hurts nor offends. Its education is easy; we rear it with pleasure, because we are able to instruct it; it leaves the melody of its natural note to listen to the harmony of our voices and instruments; it applauds, it accompanies us, and repays the pleasure it receives with interest. The nightingale, more proud of its talent, seems willing to preserve it in all its purity; at least, it appears very little to value ours; and it is with the greatest difficulty