SONG SPARROW 307 



Aijril 2, 1853. The song sparrows, the three-spotted, 

 away by the meadow-sides, are very shy and cunning : 

 instead of flying will frequently trot along the ground 

 under the bushes, or dodge through a wall like a swal- 

 low; and I have observed that they generally bring 

 some object, as a rail or branch, between themselves and 

 the face of the walker, — often with outstretched necks 

 will peep at him anxiously for five or ten minutes. 



May 11, 1853. I nearly stepped upon a song sparrow 

 and a striped snake at the same time. The bird fluttered 

 away almost as if detained. I thought it was a case of 

 charming, without doubt, and should think so still if I 

 had not found her nest with five eggs there, which will 

 account for her being so near the snake that was about 

 to devour her. 



Oct. 30, 1853. By the bathing-place, I see a song 

 sparrow. . . . He drops stealthily behind the wall and 

 skulks amid the bushes ; now sits behind a post, and 

 peeps round at me, ever restless and quirking his tail, 

 and now and then uttering a faint cTiij). 



March 11, 1854. Song sparrows toward the water, 

 with at least two kinds or variations of their strain hard 



quick 



to imitate. Ozit^ ozit, ozif., psa te te te te te ter twe ter 

 is one ; the other began chip chip che we, etc., etc. 



March 16, 1854. A. M. — Another fine morning. 



Willows and alders along watercourses all alive these 

 mornings and ringing with the trills and jingles and 

 warbles of birds, even as the waters have lately broken 

 loose and tinkle below, — song sparrows, blackbirds, not 

 to mention robins, etc., etc. The song sparrows arc very 



