SPARROWS 431 



though there is no good reason, in view of the more general 

 distribution shown, why it should not be found everywhere by 

 careful observers. The trouble is that the species has been 

 overlooked. Mr. Smith was right in stating that the species 

 was a regular migrant, arriving in May and quickly passing 

 to the north and east (F. & S. 19, No. 25, p. 484), but owing 

 to lack of definite data there alleged to prove his assertions, 

 they were rejected in List of Birds of Maine, but I accept his 

 statements made as being correct and only rejected his facts at 

 the time because no number of definite records were brought 

 forth to prove his assertions. 



The species passes quickly through southern Maine at dates 

 from May twelfth to May eighteenth, and in central Maine near 

 Bangor they usually appear about the fifteenth to seventeenth. 

 In fall they sometimes appear as early as September eighth, 

 while October thirteenth seems to be the latest date known. 

 Near Bangor the species generally appears and passes along 

 very quickly in spring, so that unless seen during the two or 

 three days they are going by they would pass undiscovered, and 

 in the fall, though more leisurely in their going, two weeks at 

 the outside covers their going by. They are rather silent and 

 secretive, acting Song Sparrow-like in many ways, sneaking 

 through the bushes and undergrowth along the highways and 

 hedgerows in much the same manner. Their call, rather rarely 

 uttered, is a " cheak " uttered in a thinish, shrill tone, and I 

 have never heard them sing. They are generally seen by ones, 

 twos or threes, often scattered along with the Song Sparrows 

 in migration in fall, and usually by themselves in spring. 



At Fort Kent in early July, 1904, a few were seen, and in 

 early August, 1905, they were more numerous. They fre- 

 quented the low evergreen thickets along the brooks and tribu- 

 taries of the Fish River and along the Fish River itself, and 

 on wooded, moist, evergreen hillsides back from the Woolastook 

 River. There seem to be good reasons for concluding they 

 were breeding, though no nests were found or young seen, but 



28 



