The Song Sparrow. 123 



yond the contemplated station by the strong summer 

 wind, he would repeat his strains many times within a 

 few feet of me, apparently regardless of my proximity. 

 Then he would flit farther along the stream, and sing for 

 another period from another situation. Presently I might 

 hear him rustling among the shrubbery on the opposite 

 bank of the stream. I would see him hopping daintily 

 along the water line, gleaning morsels for his afternoon 

 lunch. Sometimes he would take an afternoon bath, after 

 which he would flit to his station in the warm sunshine, 

 where he would preen himself carefully and utter his 

 pleasure in his happy lot. Sometimes I would lose sight 

 and sound of him lor a time, but later the familiar voice 

 would arise from a convenient situation near me, and thus 

 he sang his way into my warmest friendship. 



The song sparrow abounds in eastern United States and 

 British Provinces, ranging westward to the edge of the 

 great plains, breeding throughout its habitat. Eobert 

 Eidgway states that it winters from about the fiftieth 

 parallel to the Gulf Coast. (Natural History Survey of 

 Illinois, Yol. 1, page 283.) He also says that it is known 

 in the more southern portions of Illinois only as a winter 

 resident. <'As far north at least as Wabash, Lawrence, 

 and Eichland Counties in this State, the Song Sparrow 

 makes its appearance in the fall along with the White- 

 throated and Swamp Sparrows, and remains all winter in 

 company with these and other species, departing with 

 them in the spring. I have there heard its song on but 

 two or three occasions, and then only in the spring, just 

 before they took their departure." 



In this locality of central Illinois the song sparrow is 

 one of the common species. While not familiar after the 

 manner of the robin, bluebird, house wren, and chipping 

 sparrow, it haunts bushy gardens near habitations and 

 exhibits no spirit of shyness when in the vicinity of man. 

 While fishing along the streams it frequents I have known 

 it to perch within a few feet of me and pour forth its 

 notes regardless of my presence, though clearly aware of 

 my proximity. Mr. Eidgway states that in southern 

 Illinois the song sparrow is "very retiring, inhabiting 

 almost solely the bushy swamps in the bottom land, and 



