62 



AVIFAUNA COLUMBIANA. 



servers. We have not observed it in spring before the last week in April, 

 nor in the fall before the second week in October ; but it comes and 

 goes so slyly that it is very likely to be overlooked. It appears to be 

 more numerous in the fall than at the opposite season. [243] 



Melospiza lincolni, in all probability, is an inhabitant of the District, 

 though we had never found it in 1862 ; nor has it since been seen here by 

 others to our knowledge. 



92. 



(131.) Melospiza fasciata (Gm.) Scott. 

 Song Sparrow. 



(M. melodia of the original edition.) 



A permanent resident, extremely abundant, particularly in winter, at 

 which season it is our commonest sparrow. During the inclement sea- 

 son it gathers in companies which seclude themselves in the shelter of 

 intricate shrubbery, particularly in marshes and along the banks of the 



Fig. 36.— Song Sparrow. 



river and lesser streams. An occasional stave is heard from the melo- 

 dious creatures even under these circumstances j and with the earliest 

 breath of spring the rich and tender voices are heard in full song. 

 This is one of the birds which holds its own best against the foreign 

 Sparrows. It still breeds in numbers in the parks and private shrub- 

 beries throughout the city — in the Smithsonian Grounds, for instance — 

 where a Song Sparrow seldom fails to salute us cheerily as we pass to 

 and from our daily desk. [244] 



93, (127.) Junco hiemalis (Linn.) Scl. Snow-bird. 



A winter resident. It arrives with the first cold snap, generally the 

 10th or 12th of October ; soon becomes very numerous, and s6 continues 

 until the 15th of April following. The main body of the birds then 

 departs for the Korth or for the mountains to the west of us. It goes in 



