SONGS OUT OF SEASON. Ill 



These birds are such irrepressible singers that I 

 expected to be able to record a carol for every 

 month in the year, but was disappointed in this 

 hope, for not a robin was to be seen after the middle 

 of November, until some time in January; and 

 even when they reappeared there seemed to be no 

 music in their throats, at other times so tuneful. 



On October 29 I had a surprise which I believe 

 deserves a somewhat minute description. For 

 several weeks I had been watching the fox sparrows 

 along the bushy fringe of the woods and in a 

 marsh not far off ; but as they are only migrants 

 I had little hope of hearing their song, at least in 

 the autumn. On the day referred to, while 

 sauntering along the border of the woods, I flushed 

 one of these birds in the briers. It darted in its 

 graceful, thrush-like flight back of me to a sapling, 

 choosing a perch where I could not see it on 

 account of the intervening bushes. I had resumed 

 my walk, for the fox sparrow was a bird well- 

 known to me, when I was suddenly brought to a 

 halt by a new style of bird melody. What could 

 it be ? I was instantly on the alert, and started 

 back to investigate. The notes came from the pre- 

 cise spot whither the fox sparrow had flown a few 

 moments before. 



