284 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



supply his companion with food, which like a faithful 

 and affectionate husband he willingly performs. 

 When not thus engaged, he perches upon an ad- 

 joining tussock or bush, and exerts his utmost to 

 defend his mate and nest against the encroach- 

 ments of enemies. 



The young are fed alternately by both parents. 

 The solicitude of the latter for the former is truly 

 remarkable, and continues sometimes after the 

 young have assumed their independence. The 

 young leave the nest 1 2 days after hatching, and 

 in ten days more are prepared for self-maintenance. 



Two broods are reared in a season ; the second 

 during the month of July, the first being fully 

 matured and out of the way when preparations 

 are begun for a second. After the breeding- 

 period is over, both old and young subsist upon 

 the seeds of meadow-brasses, sedges, rushes, and 



o o 



berries of the common red-cedar, and a few 

 insects, until their departure during the last of 

 October. 



The eo>s are a ligfht o-reen, and are marked 



oo o o 



with reddish and purplish-brown spots which 

 are confluent about the larger extremity, con- 

 stituting an annulus. They measure .76 of an 

 inch in length and .50 in breadth. 



Melospiza nielodia, Baird. 



The Song Sparrow is one of our permanent 

 residents, and is universally distributed. In the 

 winter it is one of our most agreeable guests, fre- 



