1436 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part 3 



and birches, and with openings where clumps of grasses and sedges 

 grow around temporary rock pools. 



We found Lincoln s sparrows in the Dorion region generally in 

 recently cutover areas full of brush piles and stumps, fallen logs and 

 new growth interspersed with grassy openings and rain pools. Marsh 

 marigolds were a conspicuous feature of many territories in early 

 June. Other plants frequently found were Labrador tea, sweet 

 coltsfoot (Petasites), wood anemone, and young wild cherry shrubs. 

 Small spruces, alders, willows, dogwoods, and saplings of birch and 

 aspen were features of most of the territories. Many were adjacent to 

 stands of larger trees of aspen, birch, and spruce, and the birds some- 

 sometimes retired into these forests when disturbed. Many terri- 

 tories included isolated large trees of these same species left by the 

 loggers because of imperfections, and which the bird occasionally used 

 as song perches. 



Lincoln's sparrows now appear to be invading the sort of manmade 

 "forest edge" found along roadsides and after cuttings in forest 

 country, but originally they must have depended for edge on fires and 

 water, the edges of lakes, streams, and bogs. Many of the recorded 

 nests have been in open sphagnum bogs in spruce forest. 



Spring. — Lincoln's sparrows move northward in spring to their 

 breeding territories from the wintering grounds. These lie as far 

 south as El Salvador, Guatemala, Baja California, and Florida, and 

 so the little birds move over most of the United States and much of 

 Canada as they journey northward for nesting. Of their occurrence 

 in New York, Ludlow Griscom (1923) writes: 



While uncommon it is a regular transient in our area, but will never be seen, 

 except by a lucky "fluke," unless specially looked for. In spring it is particularly 

 fond of water courses, the banks of which are grown with bushes, where it remains 

 down among the roots and disappears at the slightest noise. By going as rapidly 

 and noisily as possible through such a tract, a trim, small, grayish-brown Song 

 Sparrow will sometimes flash into view for a second as it dives headlong into the 

 bushes a few feet ahead. Making every possible effort to be quiet, the student 

 should next make a wide detour and return to the bank ahead of where the bird 

 was seen to enter. In this way I have had the bird come to me within six feet. * * * 

 Lincoln's Sparrow will occur, however, in dense shrubbery almost everywhere, 

 and I see it every spring in Central Park. It is exceptional to see more than one 

 or two a season, and then it will occur on the big waves only. 



At Toronto, migrating white-crowned sparrows and Lincoln's 

 sparrows usually arrive at the same time. As the former is more 

 conspicuous and noticed first, keen bird students in the area immedi- 

 ately become alert to the possibility of Lincoln's lurking in the under- 

 brush. Considering the apparent rarity of the species, a surprising- 

 number of these tiny sparrows are caught in banding traps in spring. 

 Thus the trap reveals a species ever-watchful eyes may have missed. 



