C. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut. 41 



observed them feeding quietly with the Red-poll Warblers (De/tdrceca 

 pulmarum) ou the City Green, and in fall it is no uncommon thing to 

 find them associated with Passerella iliaca, Zonotrichia albicollis, 

 Melospiza melodia, and Spizella socialis and pnsilla, without showing 

 the slightest sign of animosity. In New York and other cities, how- 

 ever, they are sometimes quite belligerent, attacking and driving off" 

 the birds that once occupied the same ground. This is especially 

 noticeable in spring, when they appropriate the houses put up for 

 Bluebirds, Wrens, and other species. That they do some good in 

 destroying injurious insects is certain. "In open places where there 

 are a few trees in the towns, such as the gardens in the squares or in 

 the parks, it is eminently useful in ridding the foliage of the insects 



which would otherwise destroy the leaves and tender shoots ; 



and destroys myriads of the small smooth caterpillers and larvae 

 which feed on the buds of the trees, and is one of the best guardians 

 of the orchard."* A few days ago my attention was attracted by 

 the peculiar actions of one of these Sparrows. It w r as hopping along 

 on the uppermost rod of a fence, and whenever it came to a post 

 (into which the fence rods were inserted) it Mould stand on tip-toe 

 and peep up under the ornamental top-board of the post, as if look- 

 ino- for something. On coining nearer I discovered that the bird 

 was searching for moths, of which it secured one or more at each 

 post, and, after proceeding in this manner for several rods, it flew 

 away, evidently having had enough for one meal. In passing the 

 fence since, I have, on several occasions, seen a Sparrow, apparently 

 and probably the same individual, going through with precisely the 

 same procedure, and with the same result. Do not cases like the 

 above go far to prove that many birds are highly intelligent and pos- 

 sess a good degree of memory ? The Sparrow in question discovered 

 a moth, doubtless by accident, concealed beneath the overlaping edge 

 of the top-board of a fence-post. Was he content with simply gob- 

 bling this one up ? By no means ; if there is one there may be 

 more, and sure enough he soon spies another, and, going to the next 

 post, still another, and so on till he is satisfied. Next day, when 

 searching for breakfast, does he forget yesterday's experience ? Not 

 at all; he returns to the fence-posts and readily secures another 

 meal. The chance finding of the first moth has led to the knowledge 

 that similar insects take refuge, by day, in certain places ; and in the 



* A History of the Birds of Europe, including all the species inhabiting the "West- 

 ern Palasarctic Region. By H. E. Dresser. Part XLVIII, March. 1876. 

 Trans. Conn. Acad., Vol. IV. 6 July, 1817. 



