40 G. H. Merriam — Birds of Connecticut. 



2, 1875). They are uiitiriug songsters, particularly in early spring, 

 and may l)e found everywhere except in dense woods. Tlie song of 

 the Field Sparrow is loud, clear, and pleasing, and he may consider 

 himself fortunate, who has mastered its numerous variations. Minot 

 says of it, " No sounds are more refreshing, on a warm afternoon of 

 early summer, than those which they produce." It nests both on the 

 ground and in low bushes. 



99. Zonotrichia. albicoUis (Gmelin) Bonaparte. Wliite-throated Sparrow. 



Abundant during the migrations, sometimes remaining all winter. 

 Arrives from the north about Sept. 2 2d, remaining through Novem- 

 ber. Returns in April and departs about May 20, at which date it 

 was last seen, both in 1876 and 1877. During the winter of 1874-5 

 they were very numerous all about the city, as well as in the sur- 

 rounding country. Mr. Erwin 1. Shores, of Suffield, Conn., writes me 

 that on May 15, 1877, they were exti-emely abundant in the woods 

 in his vicinity- — outnumbering all the other species t(»gether. 



1 00. Zonotrichia leucophrys (Porst.) Sw. White-crowned Sparrow. 



An irregular migrant; sometimes quite common. (Nov. 28 and 

 Dec. 5, 1874; Oct. 25, 1877, common.) Mr. Dayan shot a beautiful 

 specimen May 10, 1876. Mr. Osborne saw it on May 15, 1877. 

 Mr. W. W. Coe shot one at Portland, Conn., March 20, 1875. 



101. Passer domesticUS Brisson. English Sparrow ; House Sparrow. 



Introduce*!. An abundant ivsident in all the larger, and most of the 

 smaller, towns throughout the State. The opening sentence, under 

 the head of this species, in H. PI Dresser's magnificent work on "The 

 J^irds of Euro})e," shows that its habits have remained unchanged, in 

 one respect at least, notwithstanding the great distance it has bt'cn 

 carrietl, and the varied conditions to which it has been subjected : 

 ''Throughout Europe the House Sparrow is very generally distri- 

 l)uted almost wherever there aiv human habitations (except in the 

 extreme north) ; for it follows the footsteps of man almost like a 

 domestic animal, and where he fixes his habitation thei'e the Sparrow 

 also takes up its abode." Their })ugnacity seems tt) vary in different 

 parts of the country and at difi'erent times of the year. In New 

 Haven their attitude toward other species is not generally offensive, 

 and they are commonly seen on the friendliest terms with the Chip- 

 ping Sparrows, throughout the entire season. In early spring I have 



