RARER BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 507 



years, and in the time occupied by them in passing a given 

 locality, it is less surprising that at different points they 

 should vary in abundance the same year. Among the birds 

 that regularly breed in the district in question, there are 

 some that are not equally common at all points. The Savan- 

 nah Sparrow .(Passerculus savanna), for instance, that along 

 the coast and on the islands is one of the most common 

 species of its family during the summer, is almost unknown 

 at this season in the interior of the state, although a species 

 that at different seasons of the year is found throughout 

 nearly the whole continent. The Swamp Sparrow (Melo- 

 spiza palustris) is likewise locally restricted, for while a 

 common summer bird in many of the larger swamps in the 

 eastern part of the state, as the Fresh Pond marshes in 

 Cambridge, it has thus far escaped the detection of very 

 expert observers in the interior and western part. The 

 Yellow-winged Sparrow (Coturniculus passerinus) is like- 

 wise partial to peculiar localities, preferring apparently 

 sandy plains and dry open pastures ; while it is one of the 

 most numerous summer sparrows about Springfield, on Gape 

 Cod and at Nantucket, it is generally much more rarely 

 observed in the eastern counties of the state, where at some 

 localities it is deemed rare. The same remarks apply to 

 other species, as the Solitary and White-eyed Vireos (Lani- 

 vireo solitarius and Vireo Novcvboracensis) , etc. The Prairie 

 Warbler (Dendroeca discolor) is much more at home in old 

 pastures partially grown up to barberries and cedars than 

 elsewhere. The Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), gen- 

 erally so numerous everywhere, I found last year was one 

 of the rarest sparrows on the islands and extreme coast 

 border, where its relative, the Savannah, was so common. 



Birds, as probably other animals, are not quite so invari- 

 able in their habits as has been commonly supposed, nor in 

 the precise character of their notes and songs, or the situa- 

 tion and materials of which they compose their nests. Hence 

 one should not rashly question the accounts given by usually 



