148 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



line is at times very striking. On March 30, 1919, in a walk during a snow storm 

 from Rockport along the shore to the south as far as Gloucester, I found these 

 birds in great numbers just back of the rocks and beaches. On March 19, 1905, 

 following a warm day, during which very few Song Sparrows were to be seen, 

 they became abundant at Ipswich. I counted fifty-eight flying out from a single 

 clump of bushes. 



Perhaps no other bird has a greater variation in its songs. The birds of 

 each locality dififer. If one is familiar with the songs of the residents about one's 

 place, he is struck with the difference in the songs of birds a few miles away. 

 No two birds sing exactly alike, and one bird may sing several songs. During 

 the migrations the variety in the songs is very striking. Some songs are clear, 

 delightful, and varied, others are short and far from musical. Every summer 

 since 1908, I have listened to the simple song of a bird near my house at Ipswich 

 that I have called the Russian Song Sparrow, as he sings hvcc twee sweetsky. 

 Either the same bird has returned every year or a descendant or friend has acquired 

 his song. On June 6, 1908, I heard and saw at Ipswich a Song Sparrow singing 

 the clear, sweet song of the Field Sparrow with an ending which suggested that 

 of his own species. I found him again on June 26 in the same place performing 

 as before. On several occasions he sang the ordinary song of the Song Sparrow 

 with variations. 



The courtship of the Song Sparrow is true to the bird's name, for it is one 

 chiefly of song. The song contests of the males in the early spring are one of 

 the most delightful features of the country-side at that season. These peaceful 

 contests sometimes begin with great display of wrath by one bird chasing another 

 in the air on quivering wings, dodging about through the bushes and circling 

 irregularly but never far, I suspect, from the waiting female. Each bird emits 

 sharp mouse-like chips. Notwithstanding the rapid vibration of their wings, 

 their speed is not great, and one never catches up with the other. Soon one bursts 

 into song and is answered by the other, sometimes from a perch, sometimes in the 

 air. I have seen a Song Sparrow on the top of a small spruce flutter or whir 

 his wings for several seconds before he burst into a song which was shorter than 

 the wing vibrations. On another occasion I saw the flight-song performed with 

 the song left out : the bird flew up and down on a curve on rapidly fluttering 

 wings, but no sound escaped its bill. 



243 [583] Melospiza lincolni lincolni (And.). 



Lincoln's Sparrow. 

 Uncommon transient visitor. May 13 to May 31 ; August 30 to October 14. 



