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, 

 in a little spasm. 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 



