582 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The nests found by Mr. Kennicott were all on the ground, more or less 

 concealed in tufts of grass, dry leaves, or projecting roots. Some were in 

 thiclv woods, others in more open regions, and were lined with moose-hair. 



Mr. lioss states that this species fretpients all the j\[ackenzie River region 

 in summer, arriving about the 2(lth of April, and leaving abdut the 10th nf 

 October. Besides its call-note, or chirp, it has a very pretty song. 



Mr. Dall also remarks that they were quite common at Nulato in the 

 spring, not arriving there, however, until about the first of June. 



According to Mr. Dresser, it is found occasionally about San Antonio 

 in winter, and Dr. Woodhouse says that it is also common in the Indian 

 Territory in fall and winter. Accoi'ding to Mr. Audubon, it makes its 

 appearance in Louisiana in November, and remains there until early spring. 

 It is also abundant in South Carolina, an'iving there in October and leaving 

 in April. 



This species was observed by Mr. Aiken in Colorado Territory for aljout 

 tlireo weeks following IWarch 20, after which they were seen no more. 



It Ijreeds more or less abundantly in the northern and eastern j)ortions of 

 Maine. About Calais and in all tlie islands of tlie Bay of Fundy, and 

 througliout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, I found tliis liy fir tlie most 

 common and familiar species, especially at Pictou, where it abounded in 

 the gardens, in re])eated instances coming witlnn the outliuildings to build 

 its nests. lu a woodslied connected with tlie dwelling of Mr. Dawson, my 

 attention was called to the nests of several of these birds, built within reach 

 of the hand, and in places where the family were passing and repassing 

 throughout the day. In Pictou they were generally called the Bluebird by 

 the common people. On my ride from Halifax to Pictou, I also found these 

 birds breeding by the roadside, often under the shelter of a projecting bank, 

 in tlie manner of the Passerculiis savanna. I afterward found them nesting 

 iu similar situations among the "White Mountains, the roadsides .seeming to 

 be a favorite situation. In liabits and notes, at Pictou, they reminded me 

 of the common SpizcUa socialis, but were, if anything, more fearless and 

 confiding, coming into tlie room wliere the family were at their meals, and 

 only flying away when they liad secured a cruml) of sufficient size. 



In Western Massachusetts tliey breed in all ])arts of the range of Green 

 Mountains, from Blandford to North Adams. They appear about Spring- 

 field in October and November, and are for a while abundant, and are then 

 gone until March, when they return in lull song, and remain numerous into 

 April, and less common until into May. In the eastern part of the State 

 tliey are found from October to late in May, with some irregularity and in 

 varying numbers. Mr. Audubon did not meet with any on tlie coast of 

 Labrador, and Dr. Coues did not find them so abundant as he expected, and 

 did not observe any until the latter part of July, at which time the young 

 were already hatclied, and tliey were associated in small companies. They 

 kept entirely in the thick woods, and seemed rather timid. 



