THE FOX-COLORED SPARROW. 579 



the portions which are black in the males." The notes of 

 these birds are said to be quite different from those of the 

 former species, sounding likejo-ree, the emphasis being de- 

 cidedly on the last syllable, the note giving the popular 

 name Joree to the species. 



THE FOX-COLORED SPARROW. 



During the month of April, in my first year of ornitho- 

 logical study in the locality now under review, I made my 

 first acquaintance with the Fox-colored Sparrow (Passerella 

 iliaca). I did not then, nor at any time since in my several 

 localities of observation, find it in any considerable num- 

 bers. Occasionally during March or early April, a small flock, 

 or more commonly a single individual, may appear in a 

 stealthy migration. Like the Chewink, it follows the bram- 

 ble-grown fences along the edges of woods and thickets, 

 dodges in and out in the most coy and wary manner, 

 scratches among the leaves, and on some slight disturbance, 

 hops up on an eminence and surveys the surroundings with 

 a quiet caution. During such times it has a soft tsip, tsip, 

 as a sort of conversational note; this, in case of alarm, may 

 become a sharp chuck, chuck. 



Having passed the latitude of 47, it spends its summer 

 in a sparrow-like manner, and returns during October and 

 November to spend the winter anywhere between New Jer- 

 sey and Florida, becoming rare in the latter State, and not 

 reported beyond. Audubon's account of its breeding habits 

 in Labrador, and Maynard's history of the same in the 

 Magdalen Islands, are in complete harmony. The nest is 

 placed on the ground, under the drooping limbs of the 

 thick evergreens. It is large and bulky, composed of dry 

 grass and moss, and is lined with fine grass and feathers. 

 Eggs, oval in form, 4-5, pale-green, specked, spotted, and 



