268 Saunders, The Ipsvokh Sparrozv. [^^"j^ 



a fact which seems curious when one considers the migrants which 

 remain for days in both spring and fall. The total number of 

 summer residents is ten, including two Ducks, two Plovers, two 

 Sandpipers, three Terns, and the Ipswich Sparrow. 



During my stay, I was in every way highly favored, for not 

 only was the season much farther advanced than at the time of 

 Dr. Dwight's visit, without which I could have been able to see 

 nothing of the nesting season, but on three of our eight days we 

 saw the sun, and though many trifling rains were encountered, 

 there were none that made one desire shelter, so that the whole of 

 all the eight days were available for bird study, when other duties 

 would permit. 



The Sparrows were found in increased numbers and their song 

 could be heard at all hours of the day. 



The song resembles very closely that of the Savanna Sparrow, 

 but instead of ending with dzzz as does that species, the conclud- 

 ing note is a weak imitation of the call of the terns which, as 

 Dr. Dwight truly remarked, can be heard at all hours of the day 

 and night. He has well described this note by the syllables' 

 pree-a and they are delivered rapidly and abruptly, almost as much 

 so as one can articulate while giving the letters their full sound. 



The birds were not found to be very shy, but their color is 

 eminently protective, and they appear to realize this thoroughly 

 and would often remain motionless and allow a fairly close 

 approach before flying. There was seldom any difficulty in 

 approaching to within comfortable range of the few that I shot. 



While I was too early for most nests to have eggs, I arrived at 

 the most favorable time to find them, because the first step in 

 nestbuilding is the excavation of the nest cavity which usually 

 results in the exposure of some black soil, the patch of dark color 

 being easily seen among the dried grass stems which cover the 

 site. A few days later, when these holes were covered with 

 grasses, detection became very difficult indeed. 



Three nests were found in the enclosure surrounding the Super- 

 intendent's house, and nearly 30 were found altogether, most of 

 them being, of course, incomplete. Of those containing complete 

 sets, four contained 5 eggs, and four contained 4 only, part of one 

 set being hatched. All the nests but five were placed among long 



