PASSERELLA ILIAC A, FOX SPARROW. 161 



November and March). — Boardm., Pr. Bost. Soc. ix, 1862, 127 (Calais, Me., mi- 

 gratory, commou). — Verr., ibid. VAS (Anticosti, common, breeds). — Verr., Pr. 

 Ess. Inst., iv, 18(34, 73 (Springfield, Mass., October, November, March, April, 

 sometimes February). — CoCES, Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1868, 283 (New England, mi- 

 gratory). — CouES, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii, 1868, 116 (South Carolina, November to 

 April)'— Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii, 18U8, 287.— Turnb., B. E. Pa. 1869, 13 

 (October to March).— Dall & Bann., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1868, 285 (Alaska, 

 summer, breeding abundantly). — Mayx., Guide, 1870, 120 (MassachuM-tts, mi- 

 gratory) ; and Pr. Bost. Soc. 1871 (Quebec, breeding). — Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. 

 ii, 187i, 27<) (Florida, rare).— Trippe, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 238 (Iowa).— Coues. 

 Key, 1872, 147, fig. 91.— Snow, B. Kaus. 1873, 7.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 

 50,'pl. 78, f. 2. 



F)-ingiUa nifa, VVils., Am. Orn. ii, 1811, .53, pi. 22, f. 4.— Light., V(/rz. 1823, No. 428. 



Frbigilla ferrnglnva, WiLS., Cat. vi, 1812. 



" Emberiza pratciisis, Vieill." 



PasscreUa obsvura, Verr., Pr. Bost. Soc. ix, 1862, 153 (Anticosti). 



Sab. — Eastern Province of North America. North to 68°, and to the Yukon. Breeds 

 from the Bri!ish Provinces northward. Not observed to nest anywhere in the United 

 States. Winters in the Middle States sparingly, iu the Southern States very abun- 

 dantly. West iu the Uuited States only to the edge of the Central Plains. Accidental 

 in California (spec, in Mns. S. I.). 



Not obtained by any of the Expeditions. 



The Fox Sparrow enters the Middle States from the North in October, 

 and by the fir.st 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 February, thus escaping the coldest weather. During the 

 winter they are dispersed over the Southern States, beyond which, how- 

 ever, they do not appear to pass, as I have found no record. In March 

 they again become plentiful in the Middle States; and, having already 

 taken up their line of migration toward their homes in the North, their 

 coming is with song of gladness and all the busy stir of the opening 

 season. They are not all oti" until April, and during the sunny days 

 that precede their departure, the males are fond of mounting the little 

 bushes, or even the trees, to warble a few exquisitely sweet notes, the 

 overture of the joyous music which, later in the year, enlivens the 

 northern solitudes, whither the birds resort to nest. So musical is the 

 Fox Sparrow, indeed, that even in autumn, when the transient glow 

 and fervor of the nui)tial period has subsided and commonplace occu- 

 pations alone engage him, he forgets the dull season at times, and lisps 

 fugitive strains of sweet memories awakened by the warmth and 

 glamour of the Indian summer. But this is a mere fragment — the 

 shadow of a song stealing across the miml, not the song itself, which 

 we only hear iu perfection when the bird's life is quickened in the sunny, 

 showery April, and he leaves us with cheery "good-bye,*' promi.sing to 

 come again. What one of our fringilline birds is' so entirely pleasing 

 as this, my favorite? Strong, shai)ely, vivacious, yet gentle, silver- 

 tongued; cla<l most tastefully in the ri(;hest of warm browns; and, that 

 nothing may be wanting to single him out fiom among his humbler 

 relatives, a high-bred bird, exclusive, retiring. We ilo not liud hiui 

 mi-xing indiscriminately with the throng of Sparrows that iicconq)any 

 him in his jdurneyings ami sjiend the winter with him. With a few 

 select associates of his own kind, pcrhajjs only two or three lamilies 

 that were reared together, he choo.ses his own retreat, and holds it 

 against intrusion. In some little glade, hedged about with almost im- 

 penetrable briers, you will come upon him and his IVietids, nestling 

 among the withered leaves on the ground, gently calling to ea(!h other 

 in the assurance of safety. On your unwelcome ajjpearance, they will 

 hurriedly take flight together, throwing them.'^olves into the thickest 

 II 



