^°*1912^^T TowNSEND, Bird Gemulogij. 293 



The Song Sparrow has adapted itself in twenty different forms 

 to all parts of the continent, and is abundant almost e\'erywhere. 

 Incidentally it is interesting to compare a map of North America 

 showing the various lingual races of Indians with one showing the 

 various races of Song Sparrows. lioth maps show an extensive 

 race in the more uniform east — the Algonquin Indians, and the 

 melodia sparrow, — while both show in the diversified siu-face of 

 the extreme West numerous races of both man and bird. 



What a contrast is the enterprise shown by the Song Sparrow 

 to the lack of enterprise in the case of such a bird as the Swamp 

 Sparrow, for instance. Although first cousin to the Song Sparrow 

 and although it is spread over a large territory, the Swamp Sparrow 

 limits itself to the almost uniform environment of swamps, and 

 has therefore never developed any races. 



Another bird which is showing great developmental or evolution- 

 ary possibilities is the Grackle both Purple and Bronzed. This 

 bird instead of shunning man has been bright enough to appreciate 

 the fact that it is safest from persecution when in most intimate 

 relations with him. It has come into his towns and cities, and it 

 does not hesitate to build its nests on his houses. In Boston, 

 although there had been a few previous records, it was not until 

 1900 that the Bronzed Grackle began to breed regularly in the 

 Public Garden, and the numbers increased so that thirty-two nests 

 were counted there by Mr. H. W. Wright in 190(). In 1907 they 

 first began to build nests in the vines on my Ipswich house, and 

 two pair have nested there every summer since, when I permitted. 

 In the matter of food they are not particular, or rather their 

 appetite is a catholic one, and they can adapt themselves to cir- 

 cumstances. They are able to pick eggs out of a Robin's nest and 

 peas from pods in the garden, and they undoubtedly serve a useful 

 purpose in towns and cities by diminishing the English Sparrow 

 nuisance. I have seen one hold down a struggling English Sparrow 

 with its foot while it deliberately pecked out its brains. While 

 the English Sparrows follow Robins hunting worms on the lawn, 

 and saucily snatch the worm away from their very mouths, they 

 keep at a safe distance from the Grackle, and if he so much as 

 stops to look at them, they fly off in terror. In fact Grackles put 

 to flight the innocent Robins. I have seen a Grackle partly run 



