424 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



though only very limited and locally in Canadian surroundings. 

 They are distinctly birds of old bushy fields and pastures where 

 the territory is rather open, spotted with bushes here and there. 

 Here in spring and summer the characteristic clear, whistling 

 song may be heard, one bird answering another from their 

 favorite perches, for they usually occur in small, locally scat- 

 tered colonies. I have never heard two sing exactly alike, but 

 an individual bird utters the same song year after year, as far 

 as my observations near Bangor go, for the same characteristic 

 song of each individual is heard season after season from the 

 same spots, favorite perches in bushes and low trees. The song 

 of one of my friends sounds much like the syllables "chee-chee- 

 chee-cheo-cheo-cheo-de-de-de-de-we-we." Another individual 

 answers much as follows :^ — "cher-we-cher-we-cher-we-pe-o-pe- 

 de-de-de-de-de-de-de." However much it varies, the tones and 

 general character of the song is very distinctive so that I had 

 rather identify the bird by its notes than by seeing it. The 

 alarm note is a mere "chip." 



The nest is placed on the ground or in a low bush. If on 

 the ground a foundation of leaves is often made, and at any 

 rate the structure is composed chiefly of grasses lined with finer 

 grasses and horsehair. It seems likely that two broods are 

 reared. A nest taken at Dubuque, Iowa, July 21, 1895, was 

 situated in a wild gooseberry bush two feet from the ground, 

 in an old country grave-yard, according to the collector. This 

 nest measures in external height three and in internal height 

 one and a half inches, while the diameter outside is four and 

 inside two inches. The eggs measure 0.71 x 0.55, 0.73 x 0.55, 

 0.71 X 0.53, 0.74 x 0.56. Though three to five eggs are laid 

 the usual number is four. 



The food of the species consists of insects of about the same 

 variety as eaten by the Chipping Sparrow and also various 

 grass and weed seed. The incubation period and other family 

 details remain unknown as far as I am aware. 



