The WHITE-THROATED OR SONG SPARROW (_Zonotrichia albicollis_) is six
and a half inches long, and nine across the wings, the female somewhat
smaller; the upper part of the head is of a dark brown and black brown,
intermingled with a mixture of black and grey, and divided by a light
greyish-brown stripe, marked with dark and light spots; a similar
whitish-brown stripe passes over both eyes, towards the back of the head,
and under this is a dark brown streak running in the same direction; the
cheeks and lower part of the throat are ashy grey, the upper portion and
chin white, divided from the dark grey tint beneath by a black line.
The mantle is of a reddish grey, the feathers being marked with black
streaks; the shoulders and wing-covers are blackish brown, the lower
portion of their feathers bordered with reddish brown, and their end
tipped with yellowish white, forming two irregular light borders to the
wing. The throat of the female has less white upon it, and the wings are
not so profusely marked with yellow.
The White-throat is found throughout the whole of America: Audubon
tells us that it is a constant summer visitor in Louisiana and other
Southern States, seldom, however, remaining longer in those parts than
from March to September; but in the more central provinces it would seem
to prolong its sojourn to a later period. No sooner do these welcome
visitors arrive than every hedge and fence is alive with them; they form
parties consisting of some forty or fifty birds, and fly down from time
to time upon the surrounding district in search of food; hopping gaily
about as they peck the small grass-seeds that constitute their principal
nourishment, and hurrying back to their perch at the first intimation of
danger. Nothing can be more amicable than the terms on which they seem
to live; the time between their excursions over the field is passed, not
in noisy strife, but in pouring forth a constant flow of song, so sweet
as to please the ears of the most indifferent or unmusical listener. At
early dawn the little community is roused by a peculiar shrill warning
cry, somewhat resembling the syllable "twit;" this we have heard uttered
during the night, when no doubt it is intended as an intimation that
all is well. Should the day be warm, the whole flock seek shelter in
the woods, and disport themselves upon the branches of the wild vine,
rarely, however, flying to any great distance from their usual haunts.
With the first approach of spring the States are deserted for the more
northern portions of the continent. Richardson found the nest of this
bird, in the month of July, under the trunk of a tree that had fallen,
and tells us that it was formed of grass, with a bed of feathers and hair
in its interior; on his approach the mother bird did not fly away, but
ran noiselessly over the ground in the manner of a lark, thus leaving
the eggs, which were green, spotted with reddish brown, fully exposed to
his view. The White-throated Sparrow is a plump little fellow, and often
becomes extremely fat, the latter quality adding materially to the value
in which its flesh is held as an agreeable article of food, not only by
man but by Sparrow-hawks and other enemies. When caged, the voice of this
bird is heard in its full sweetness, and it continues during the entire
spring and summer to sing, even until night has set in, as is its habit
in its native land.