MELOSPIZA FASCIATA I SONG SPARROW. 259 



and clouded with chocolate that the grayish-white 

 ground is almost entirely overlaid ; such specimens 

 are like the usual run of Savanna Sparrow eggs, but 

 larger. A third style, decidedly the handsomest, is 

 where either a greenish or grayish ground is very 

 boldly marked with heavy blotches of rich umber 

 brown, in several shades of intensity. These make 

 very pretty objects, especially if the ground be bright, 

 and the principal markings wreathed around the larger 

 end. On the whole, it may be safely said that some 

 Song Sparrow eggs resemble each other less than 

 some other ones do the eggs of different Sparrows. 

 The nest is not an affair of much art it would be too 

 much to expect a Sparrow to unite all the graces with 

 an unquestionable muse but is substantial, well ap- 

 pointed, and doubtless perfectly satisfactory to its build- 

 ers, who bring together a very miscellaneous assortment 

 of grasses, weeds, and leaves, and line the cavity with 

 fine grass-stems and rootlets, together with hair in 

 some cases. Being astir in housekeeping very early 

 in the season, usually by "moving-day" in May, the 

 Song Sparrows are able to bring up two or even three 

 families in one season, and eggs may consequently be 

 found nearly through the summer, as well as in May. 

 The nest is placed in a bush, close to the ground, or 

 upon the ground itself, undrr friendly shelter of the 

 herbage, in field or pasture, by the roadside or in the 

 hedge, rarely at any considerable height. Once in 

 awhile an original pair will show eccentricity in choos- 

 ing a hole in a tree or stump. I have known of such 

 a case ; Mr. Merriam speaks of another, where the 

 pair selected a hole two feet from the ground ; and Mr. 

 Minot saw or heard of several vagaries, the birds hav- 



