222 LAND-BIRDS. 



that of the Canary, but finer, sweeter, and not so loud. In 

 their migrations, Mr. Audubon states, a flock of twenty or 

 more will perch upon the same tree, and join in a delightful 

 chorus. Their flight is elevated and graceful, and in waving 

 undulations." Just before their departure the Tree Sparrows, 

 when in flocks and feeding on the ground, often produce an 

 agreeable chorus, though at other times simply twitters. 

 Occasionally in winter an individual emits a few musical 

 notes. 



From my acquaintance with the Tree Sparrows, I have 

 almost involuntarily learned to associate them with a winter's 

 afternoon drawing to its close, a clear sunset, with perhaps 

 dark clouds above, and a rising northwest wind, which sweeps 

 across the fields, to warn us of to-morrow's cold. The almost 

 mournful chip of these birds, as they fly to their nightly rest, 

 has always seemed to me a fitting accompaniment for such a 

 scene. 



C. PUSILLA. Field Sparrow. A common summer resi- 

 dent in Massachusetts, frequenting pasture lands and the 

 " scrub." * 



a. 5J inches long. (" Bill, pale reddish.") Crown, rufous 

 red. Sides of the head, vaguely marked. Interscapulars, 

 bright bay, black-streaked, with pale edging (or rarely none). 

 Rump, median, unmarked. Tail, dusky black ; feathers pale- 

 edged. Wings (as in borealis^ and) with two inconspicuous 

 white wingbars. Beneath, white ; breast and sides distinctly 

 washed with brown. (Line dividing the crown, and nuchal 

 patch, both faintly ashy, or wanting.) 



b. The nest is placed on the ground or in a low bush, in 

 my own neighborhood generally the latter, and in a field, a 

 pasture, or the scrub-land. When placed in a bush, it is usu- 

 ally composed of fine straws, and sometimes fine twigs also, 

 and is occasionally lined with horsehairs, as is nearly always 



* A common summer resident never seen actually within the primi- 



throughout southern New England and tive, coniferous forests of the latter 



the more open and settled parts of region. W. B. 

 northern New England, but seldom or t Spizetla monticola ? W. B. 



