SPECIES 5. FRINGILLA MELODM. 

 SONG SPARROW. 

 [Plate XVI. Fig. 4.] 



Fasciated Finch? Arct. ZooLp. 375, JVo. 252. PEALE'S Museum, 



JVo. 6573. 



So nearly do many species of our Sparrows approximate to 

 each other in plumage, and so imperfectly have they been taken 

 notice of, that it is absolutely impossible to say, with certainty, 

 whether the present species has ever been described or not. And 

 yet, of all our Sparrows, this is the most numerous, the most 

 generally diffused over the United States, and by far the ear- 

 liest, sweetest, and most lasting songster. It may be said to be 

 partially migratory, many passing to the south in the month of 

 November; and many of them still remaining with us, in low 

 close sheltered meadows and swamps, during the whole of win- 

 ter. It is the first singing bird in spring, taking precedence 

 even of the Pewee and Blue-bird. Its song continues occasion- 

 ally during the whole summer and fall; and is sometimes heard 

 even in the depth of winter. The notes, or chant, are short but 

 very sweet, resembling the beginning of the Canary's song, and 

 frequently repeated, generally from the branches of a bush or 

 small tree, where it sits chanting for an hour together. It is 

 fond of frequenting the borders of rivers, meadows, swamps, 

 and such like watery places; and if wounded, and unable to fly, 

 will readily take to the water, and swim with considerable ra- 

 pidity. In the great cypress swamps of the southern states in 

 the depth of winter, I observed multitudes of these birds mixed 

 with several other species; for these places appear to be the 

 grand winter rendezvous of almost all our Sparrows. I have 

 found this bird in every district of the United States from Ca- 



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