204 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



of a light but bright greenish blue, chiefly marked by cloudings 

 of Vandyke-brown (in some places umber) and lilac, grouped 

 in an irregular ring about the larger end. A seventh resem- 

 bles strongly the ordinary egg of the Swamp Sparrow, and 

 another is dull white, with markings so feeble as to be almost 

 invisible. Still other forms exist, with various combinations, 

 to detail all of which would be impossible. 



(c). On winter-days one may sometimes see certain small 

 birds, skulking from thicket to thicket in the swamps, or other 

 cheerless places, occasionally hopping on the ground to pick up 

 the seeds which have fallen from the weeds upon the snow, now 

 and then emitting a rather melancholy note ; and these are the 

 Song Sparrows, for a few always pass the winter in Eastern 

 Massachusetts, though strange to say much less common, at 

 least in one township, during the past very mild winter than in 

 the preceding one, an extraordinarily severe season. This 

 was also the case with the Robins. Besides having seen the 

 Song Sparrows, I have also heard their song near Boston, 

 in every month of the year, 64 but in winter they are rare. 

 About the middle of March they first practise their spring 

 carols ; and those who have passed the colder weather in the 

 South then return to their spring-haunts. During the latter 

 part of March and early April they are extremely abundant, 

 particularly in swamps and about vegetable-gardens, and in 

 those places associate with other species, especially the Fox- 

 colored Sparrows. They also become less shy than they are 

 in winter, and some, to a certain extent, frequent shrubbery 

 about houses, where, .however, I have known one to remain 

 throughout the year. Wherever they may be, at this season, 

 they are in full song, and their haunts resound with the confu- 

 sion of a hundred melodies poured out by these birds and their 

 associates. Though the Song Sparrows cannot properly be 

 called gregarious, yet in spring they often collect in large 



64 Mr. Maynard also says (in "The Naturalist's Guide," p. 118) : " Mr. Brewster 

 informs me that he has taken it (i. e. the Song Sparrow) every month in the year; 

 has even heard it sing in January." 



