Page:Field key to the land birds .. (IA fieldkeytolandbi00knob).pdf/59

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FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS.

62.

29

PURPLE FINCH. RED LINNET.

OarpodGrayish brown, shaded with l)right crimson from the head downwards and on the tail coverts iinderparts gray and white. Female resembles the female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (PL III. 89) in markings and color, bnt is much smaller. The Purple Finch stays all summer, and in winter collects in small flocks, which rove about from place acus purpureus.

— Length,

6 J inches.



to place.

63.

HOUSE OR

—

ENGLISH SPARROW.

Length, i)^ inches. Top of head Passer domestlcus. and underparts gray back of neck and back chestnut black markings on throat, Ijreast, and back, and around Female grayish yellow-brown above, bill and eyes. without the black marks on throat and lighter below The English sparrow stays around dwellings breast. throughout the entire year, being rarely seen in the open country. He has no song, but is endowed with superior intellect, being in this respect comparable to the crow alone, though unlike that bird he never becomes really tame. He is quarrelsome, plucky, of unbounded impudence, very cautious ajid suspicious. These sparrows have undoubtedly a language by which They have attached they understand each other. themselves to the white man's household for thousands of years, like dogs, cats, fowl, horses, and cattle, but unlike these animals have never become



his

slaves.

64.

AMERICAN CROSSBILL.

Loxla curvl-

—

Length, 6J inches. Grayish olive mhior. no white spotted green above, underparts lighter Male shaded all bill small. bars on wing coverts over with somewhat yellowish crimson wing and tail This is a diill, quiet bird, feeding on pine black. It breeds to the north, straying southward in seed. winter. rostra







65.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.

leucoptera.

— Length, 6 inches.

Loxla

Similar to the Ameri-

can Crossbill, but shaded with deep crimson



two