512 MICIIKiAN I^.IRI) LIFE. 



latest recoi-(l in the fall, ()ct()l)er l\), 1889. Our s])i-iiig records for about a 

 score of localities in the southern part of the state are all for the first half 

 of April, the great majority falling between the 4th and the 14th. It 

 ordinarily moves southward during September, and few are found in the 

 state after October first. There is no record of its wintering in Michigan. 

 While migrating it travels in small companies or loose flocks, but soon 

 after its ariival in spring the pairs separate and nesting begins. 



The first nest is built commonly before the first of June, dates for fresh 

 eggs ranging from May 8 to June 3, while a second brood is reared late 

 in June or early in July. Mr. Westnedge took three eggs on July 20, 

 1890, in Kalamazoo county, and Dr. Wolcott records a nest with eggs 

 at New Baltimore, St. Clair county, July 23, 1893. The nest is neatly 

 and compactly built of fine grasses, roots and hair and is usually lined 

 with horse hair or cow's hair, but sometimes we find only grass. It is 

 placed either on the ground or in a low bush, rarely more than three or 

 four feet from the ground, although we have seen the nest twelve feet 

 from the ground in an old apple tree. The eggs are three to five, whitish, 

 thickly sprinkled with reddish brown, and average .68 by .51 inches. 



The food resembles that of other ground-feecling sparrows, combining 

 a large amount of weed and grass seed with a consideral)Ie number of 

 insects, especially while feeding the young. 



The bird is somewhat famous for its sweet and plaintive song, which 

 perhaps has been a little overrated. Mr. Hoffman speaks of it as follows: 

 "The song is a fine strain, beginning with two or three high, sustained, 

 piercing notes, then running into a succession of similar, more rapid notes, 

 all in a minor key, and often running down, or occasionally up, the chromatic 

 scale. Sometimes the last rapid notes rise, and occasionally one note is 

 repeated throughout. A beautiful form of the song, often given towards 

 evening, is made by a repetition of the whole in a different key as soon 

 as the first part is ended " (Birds of New England and Eastern New York, 

 p. 160). John Burroughs says its song is like the words "fe-o, fe-o, fe-o, 

 few-few-few, fee-fee-fee, uttered at first high and leisurely, but running 

 very rapidly toward the close which is low and soft." 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Atlult (sexes alike): Very similar to the Tree Sparrow (No. 230), Init readily separable 

 by the smaller size, lighter tints (rusty instead of chestnut above), absence of the dusky 

 spot on the breast, and the wholly reddish-yellow bill. Tail about the length of wing, 

 usually a little longer; top of head rather pale rusty brown, usually but not always wth an 

 imperfect median stripe of grayish; a narrow stripe of rusty behind the eye, expanding 

 into a spot on tlic side of the neck; middle of back and scapulars rusty, like toji of head, 

 but streaked witli blackish and grayish-white; rump and ujiper tail-coverts plain gray; 

 under parts shading from grayish on throat and chest to brownisli-gray on sides and flanks, 

 and pure white on belly and under tail coverts; wings and tail precisely as in the Tree 

 Sparrow, except perhaps a little paler brown on seconchiries and tertiarics, and the wing- 

 bars a little narrower; bill wholly reddish-yellow; iris brown. Young: Very similar to 

 adult, but head markings less distinct, colors duller and more blended, and breast and sides 

 streaked with blackish. 



Length 5.1U to inches; wing 2.45 to 2.70; tail 2.")0 to 2.80. 



