40 BIRDS OF P. E. ISLAND. 



In this month also they leave us for their nesting in 

 the far North. In the Arctic regions, Dr. Cowes 

 tells us, their nests are bulky structures, composed 

 of grass and moss and placed on the ground, in 

 the shelter of a tussock of grass or a stone. Eggs 

 are white, thickly mottled with brown. 



7'he Sparrow^s form a familiar little group of 

 this family, interesting on account of their intimate 

 association with the scenes of our every - da}' life, 

 their brusque familiarity, and their musical voices. 

 The Song Sparrow (Melospiza fasciata) is the first 

 to tune his notes round our doors in the spring. 

 In fact the lively bird, in some cases, has been 

 here all winter, hiding in the sheltered nooks of 

 a barn or a stack-yard. But now he is out wMth 

 his clear, musical ditty and his social w^ays, to 

 warn us that the season of love is coming with 

 the softening sky and the budding willow and 

 the Robin's loud call in the grove. The nest is 

 built on the ground, sheltered by a clod or stick, 

 and composed of grass and hair/ Sometimes it 

 is placed on a low bush, if the intelligent bird 

 has been often disturbed on the ground. The 

 Black Snow - bird (Junco hiemalis) mingles its 

 slender ditty with the first song of the Sparrow-s, 



