FKIXr.ILMD.K — THE FIXCIIKS. 9] 



The tide of retuniinu eiiiip'Mtinii lu'^jiiis to set soutlnvard early in October. 

 ColleetinLj in small loose tlocks, jn-ulialily all <»f each <4ivu]» nn'nil»ei's of the 

 same family, thev slowlv move to\v}ir(ls the south. As one set i)assi's on, 

 another succeeds, until the latter i)art of Novcndter, when we no lonj^'cr nn'ct 

 with flocks, Imt solitary individuals or ^Toups of two or three. These are 

 usually a laru^er and stouter nice, and almost suj^gest a different sjK'cies. 

 They are often in song even into l)ecend)er. They {ipjiarently do not iro 

 far, an«l are the first to return. In early March they are in full son<:,% and 

 their notes seem louder, clearer, and more viljratory than those that come to 

 us and remain to breed. 



The Son«» Sparrow, as its name implies, is one of our most noted and con- 

 spicuous singers. It is at (mce our earliest and our latest, as also our 

 most constant musician. Its song is somewhat brief, but is rei)eated at short 

 intervals, almost thrcjughout the days of spring and early summer. It some- 

 what resembles the o]>ening notes of tlie Canary, and though less resonant 

 and powerful, much surpasses them in sweetness and expression. Plain and 

 homely as this bird is in its outward garb, its sweet song and its gentle con- 

 tiding manners render it a welcome visitor to every garden, and around every 

 rural home wherein such attractions can be appreciated. AVhenever these 

 l>irds are kindly treated they readily niake friends, and are attracted to our 

 doorsteps for the welcome crumbs that are thrown to them ; and they will 

 return, vear after year, to the same localitv, whenever thus encouraged. 



The song of this Sparrow varies in different individuals, and often changes, 

 in the same bird, in different parts of the year. It is even stated by an 

 observing naturalist — Mr. Charles S. Paine, of liandoli)h, Vt. — that he has 

 known the same bird to sing, in succession, nine entirely different sets of 

 notes, usually uttering them one after the other, in the same order. This was 

 noticed not merely once or duriuLi- one season, but through three successive 

 summers. Tlie same bird returned each season to his grounds, and came 

 each time provided with the same variety of airs. 



^h'. Xuttail, who dwells with much fcn-ce u]ion the beauty and earnestness 

 of ex})ression of the song of this species, has also noticed and remarked 

 upon the power of individuals to vary their song, from time to time, with 

 ver}^ agreeable effect, but no one has recorded so remarkable an instance as 

 that thus carefully noted by ]\Ir. Paine. 



These birds are found in almost any cultivated locality where the crrounds 

 are sufficiently open. They })refer the edges of open fields, and those of 

 meadows and low grounds, but are rarely found in woods or in thick bushes, 

 exce])t near their outer edges. They nest naturally on the ground, and in such 

 situations a large majority Iniild their nests. These are usually the younger 

 l)irds. A portion, almost always birds of several summers, probably tjaight 

 by sad experiences of the insecurity of the ground, build in bushes. A pair 

 which had a nest in an adjoining field had been robl>ed, by a cat, of their 

 young when just about to fly. After much lamentation, and an interval of a 



