ONTARIO. 



the migrator}' season may be considered over, for it is alwa^-s 

 the last of this class to arrive in spring. Thrushes, Orioles, 

 Tanagers and Flycatchers are now here in full life, and the 

 busy collector can hardly take time to sleep, but if he does he 

 sees flocks of desirable species rise before his excited vision. 

 Not till the middle of June, when the birds are all nesting, does 

 he lay aside the gun and take time to count his treasures. 



The Sparrows, as a class, are also well represented near the 

 city ; some of them, such as the Fox Colored, White Crowned 

 and White Throated, being very handsome birds, which visit 

 us in spring and fall, but do not remain during the summer or 

 winter. The best known of this group is the English Sparrow, 

 which has been looked upon as an outsider, but it is here now 

 for good (or bad, as the case may be), and is entitled to a place 

 among the others of its class. With all writers on American 

 birds, it is at present very unpopular, the principal charges 

 brought against it being those of eating the fruit buds, and of 

 driving away our native birds. Some time ago I gave an 

 account of my observations on this subject, which appeared 

 elsewhere, but may be worth repeating here. It was in the 

 summer of 1S74 that I first noticed a pair of these birds about 

 the outhouses, and in a few daj^s they became quite familiar, 

 having evidently made up their minds to sta}^ with us. I made 

 them welcome for old acquaintancesake, and thinkingthey would 

 make good settlers, was going to put up a house for them, when 

 it became apparent that they were providing for themselves in 

 a manner quite characteristic. On a peak of the stal le was a 

 box occupied by a pair of Swallows, who were at that time en- 

 gaged in rearing their young, and of this box the Sparrows 

 seemed determined to get possession. The Swallows resisted 

 their attacks with great spirit, and their outcries bringing a host 

 of friends to their assistance, the intruders were for a time 

 driven off, but only to return with renewed energy and per- 

 severance. The Swallows were now sorely beset, for one had 

 to remain on guard while the other went in search of supplies. 

 Still they managed to hold the fort, till the eneni}', watching his 

 opportunity, made a strategic movement from the rear, and 

 darted into the box. Quicker than 1 can tell it, he reappeared 



17 



