March 
grant of the season—a flock of fox sparrows, 
having evidently arrived during the preceding 
night. This is the largest and handsomest of all 
the sparrows, and distinctly different in plu- 
mage, which is a rich, rusty-red above, and white 
beneath streaked with reddish. Being about sev- 
en inches long, to the casual observer they are 
not unlike a diminutive wood thrush, although 
their figure is not that of a thrush. On the first 
day after arrival, perhaps being especially hun- 
gry, they were searching with unusual vigor for 
food among the dead leaves, and were less shy 
than usual at one’s approach. It is quite notice- 
able that in spring birds are much more ap- 
proachable than at any other time. 
The fox sparrow has a peculiar method of 
scratching the ground, not like a hen, with one 
foot at a time, but somehow with both at once, 
inalittlespasm. The same trait, in less degree, 
is observable in the white-throats and probably 
in other ground-birds. But however absorbed 
in its occupation, it is keenly alert at the ap- 
proach of danger, and flies at once to a neigh- 
boring tree or bush, as if to have full view of 
the situation. Not the least important of its 
prepossessing features is its conspicuous good- 
nature, a hail-fellow, well met, fraternizing at once 
89 
