Vol l909' VI l Townsend, Habits of the English Sparrow. 17 



Thus on November 25, 1905, between 4 and 5 p. m., I estimated 

 that about 3000 sparrows were in this place on five trees. The 

 other two trees were empty. On February 20, 1906, on a mild 

 pleasant day, when the sun set at 5.24 p. m., the roost was studied 

 from the near-by City Hall. The roosting trees seen from above 

 looked as if their limbs had been whitewashed and the ground and 

 grass beneath were similarly affected. The first arrivals appear at 

 3.45 P. M., about a dozen in all. At 4 the birds are coming singly 

 and in small groups alighting in the trees but frequently changing 

 from place to place, chirping continuously and fighting for positions. 

 At 4.05 a flock of 12 fly swiftly and directly to one tree; 4.10 p. M.: 

 there are now about 150 sparrows present, but new ones are con- 

 stantly sailing in with wings wide spread from over or between the 

 surrounding high buildings. They fly with astonishing swiftness 

 and directness, projected as it were from space directly into the 

 roost, — is it the city rush and scramble for position? 4.15 P. M. 

 It is now raining birds. I have seen only one alight on a building 

 before entering the roost; they are in too much of a hurry to get 

 there. The trees are a scene of great activity and the noise rises 

 above the roar of the city's streets. The birds are crowding togther 

 in the trees, constantly fighting and flying about as they are forced 

 from their perches. At 4.30 the birds are still coming, but by 4.45 

 there is a noticeable diminution in the numbers of the coming birds 

 and by 5 o'clock the movement has ceased with the exception of a 

 few stragglers. Many are now spreading their wings and tails and 

 composing themselves for sleep. At 5.30 the roost is still noisy 

 but many are fast asleep, and before long all is quiet. 



For several weeks before Christmas each year a large depart- 

 ment store across the narrow street is brilliantly illuminated by 

 electricity, but the birds sleep quietly notwithstanding the glare 

 and the noise of the traffic. On March 19, 1906, I inspected this 

 roost at 5.45 P. m. during a heavy snowstorm. The birds were as 

 thick as usual but rather lower in the trees and sitting breast to the 

 storm. Although most of them were asleep some were still talka- 

 tive. On May 11, 1908, I estimated at 6 p. m. that there were 

 perhaps about one tenth as many birds in the roost as in winter. 

 Both males and females were present, the former often strutting 

 in turkey cock attitude and the females picking at them. It is 



