336 NOTES ON THE 



PASSERELLA ILIACA (Merrem). (585.) 



FOX SPARROW. 



The earliest knowledge of this pretty sparrow I obtained, 

 was from a specimen presented.me by a Mr. Van Druberg, who 

 collected it near the city on the 22d of September, 1870. It 

 was obtained still later that year, but I have lost the precise 

 date. Since then I have met with it frequently in both spring 

 and fall migrations, and not infrequently associated with the 

 true Snowbirds. It comes early and stays several weeks. 



My own notes through a long series of years, average the 

 arrival in spring from the 1st to the 10th of April, but Mr. 

 John Roberts obtained some on the 13th of March, 1878. I 

 have no doubt that the average will be found about the 1st of 

 April. Dr. Hvoslef found it on the 28th of March in Fillmore 

 county and again on the 2nd of May. 1885, which is the latest 

 record I have in spring. The earliest date of its autumnal 

 arrival is September 17th, so far as I know. 



It cannot be said to be abundant, but is sub-common in the 

 lines of its favored migration. Its habits are such that it 

 must be sought to be found, seldom approaching very near to 

 habitations, yet often not very far away if it has the coverts of 

 thickets bordering heavier timber. Mr. William Howling, for 

 a great many years the principal taxidermist of Minneapolis, 

 obtained a single individual in his shrubbrry on the 8th of 

 April, 1875. But I have never knOwn of another such in the 

 city. 



Wilson, the immortal historian of the birds, says of this 

 species: — "They are rather of a solitary nature, seldom feed- 

 ing in the open fields, but generally under thickets or among 

 tall, rank weeds on the edges of fields. They sometimes 

 associate with the snowbirds, but more generally keep by 

 themselves. Their manners very much resemble those of the 

 Red-eyed Bunting; they are silent, tame and unsuspicious. 

 They have generally no other note while here than a ^hep.shep.'' 



Dr. Coues' facile pen grows fervid while describing the Fox- 

 colored Sparrows on page 161 of his "Birds of the North- 

 west:" — "The Fox Sparrow enters the middle states from the 

 north in October, and by the first of the following month has 

 become abundant. Some linger here through the winter in 

 sheltered situations, but the greater number repair further 

 south early in December to reappear the latter part of Feb- 

 ruary, thus escaping the coldest weather." 



