400 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



(Knight). Cumberland: common summer resident, (Mead). Franklin; 

 common summer resident, (Swain). Hancock; common summer resident, 

 (Knight). Kennebec; abundant summer resident, (Gardiner Branch). 

 Knox ; summer, (Rackliff). Oxford; common summer resident, (Johnson). 

 Penobscot; common summer resident of settled districts, (Knight). Piscata- 

 quis; common, breeds, (Homer). Sagadahoc; common summer resident, 

 (Spinney). Somerset; quite common summer lesident, (Morrell) ; seldom 

 indeed in northern county, (Knight). Waldo; common summer resident, 

 (Knight). Washington; abundant summer resident, (Boardman). York; 

 abundant summer resident, (Adams). 



In spring the first migrants appear from the south occa- 

 sionally as early as April fifth, more often about the middle 

 of the month, while the latest I have seen the species in the 

 fall is October nineteenth, most individuals being gone earlier 

 in the month. 



The species may be commonly found running along the 

 roadside or through the fields, rising to fly a short distance 

 when closely pressed. The white tail feathers are readily per- 

 ceived as they fly and serve to distinguish them from our other 

 common related species. The song of the male is uttered quite 

 frequently in the spring and at intervals during the day, 

 though most often in morning and evening. In evening he 

 selects a perch in the top of a bush or tree and keeps up his 

 pleasant, characteristic ringing song until after twilight has 

 given place to darkness. During the morning hours he sings 

 similarly but less persistently. The song is very distinct from 

 that of the Song Sparrow but yet it has a "family resemblance" 

 to it in a way. The ordinary note is a mere "chip" which is 

 uttered in a louder, more anxious tone to denote alarm or 

 concern. 



It is essentially a species of the fields, grassy, weedy hillsides, 

 weed-grown ploughed lands and roadsides, running along or 

 perched on a bush, tree, fence or telegraph pole. The nest is 

 always on the ground, sometimes sunken in a slight depression 

 so as to be flush with the surface, at other times on a hummock 

 or in a tussock of grass or weeds. Though very hard to 

 determine the real condition of things when the sexes are 



