518 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
it entirely, hence the idea, I think, that it is scarce. I have met 
with these birds in the middle of April when eaeh bush contained 
several, many perched on the upper twigs singing the richest 
sparrow melody I know of. On visiting the locality the next 
morning at day break not a sign remained of our fleeting visitors; 
in the fall, their visit is of much longer duration, but on disturb- 
ing asmall party of these birds while scratching the dead leaves 
for their food they will fly up into the nearest evergreen tree and 
remain perfectly motionless till the intruder has passed from view. 
(J. Hughes-Samuel.) Usually rare but occasionally a common 
migrant in either spring or fall, and in rare seasons we may _ hear 
this fine songster in full song for perhaps a week; and yet until 
1885 only two or three specimens had been noted near London, 
Ont., so that it appears to be increasing in abundance quite 
steadily. (II. &. Saunders.) Irregular migrant in spring at Guelph, 
Ont.; it is never common. (A. B. Klugh.) A rare and transient 
visitant at Penetanguishene,Ont. (4.7. Young.) A not very common 
migrant in Manitoba; breeding at Duck Mountain in the northern 
part of the province. (Zhompson-Seton.) A not very common 
migrant in southern Saskatchewan. (Co:dearx.) First noticed 
on the afternoon of July toth, when its beautiful song was heard in 
the willow thickets, bordering Hayes River, a few miles above 
York Factory. While at York Factory we found fox sparrows 
fairly common in willow thickets, and took a pair, July 16th. (4. 
A. Prebles.) This handsome species breeds in the wooded dis- 
tricts of the Northwest Territories up tothe sixty-eight parallel 
of latitude; it constructs its nest in a low bush, of dry grass, hair 
and feathers. (zchardson.) North to Lapierre’s House on the 
Mackenzie River;common. (Ross.) Saw one, April tgth, 1897, at 
Edmonton, Alta.; saw individuals up to June Ist, a few pairs 
doubtless breed here; observed two individuals near Edmonton, 
June 7th, 1898, common from Lesser Slave Lake to Peace 
River Landing, Lat. 56° 15’, June, 1903. (Spreadborough.) Not 
rare at Fort McMurray at the confluence of the Clearwater River 
and the Athabasca, Lat. 56° 40’; one bird and nest seen on 
Methye Portage, eggs not hatched July 18th, 1888. (/. &. 
Macoun.) 
I'did not discover the presence of the fox sparrow at Cape 
Blossom, Kotzebue Sound, until the evening of July 31st, 1898 ; 
fox sparrows were seen or heard all along the lower course of the 
