C. IT. MervuDn — Ilinh of Connecticut. 41 



observed tliem feeding quietly witli tlie Hed-]ioll Wsirblers {^Deitdroi-o 

 pahnavum) on the City Green, and in fall it is no nnconnnon thing to 

 find them associated with Passerella iliaca, Zonotrichix albicollis, 

 M<lospiza melodia, and Splzella sociaUs and ptisilla, without showing 

 the slightest sign of animosity. In New York and other cities, how- 

 ever, they are sometimes quite belligerent, attacking ami diiving oil" 

 the birds that once occupied the same ground. This is especially 

 noticeable in spring, Avhen they appropriate the houses ])ut up for 

 Bluebirds, Wrens, and other species. That they do some good in 

 destroying injurious insects is certain. "In open places Avhere there 

 are a few trees in the toAvns, such as the gardens in the squares or in 

 the parks, it is eminently iiseful in ridding the foliage of the insects 



which would otherwise destroy the leaves and tender shoots ; 



and destroys myriads of the small smooth caterpillers and larva? 

 which feed on the buds of the trees, and is one of the best guardians 

 of the orchard."* A few^ days ago my attention was attracted by 

 the peculiar actions of one of these Sparrows. It was hopping along 

 on the uppermost rod of a fence, and whenever it came to a post 

 (into which the fence rods were inserted) it would stand on tip-toe 

 and peep up under the ornamental top-board of the post, as if look- 

 ing for something. On coming nearer I discovered that the bird 

 was searching for moths, of which it secured one or more at each 

 post, and, after proceeding in this manner for several rods, it Hew 

 aw-ay, evidently having had enough for one meal. In passing the 

 fence since, I have, on several occasions, seen a Sparrow, apparently 

 and probably the same individual, going through with precisely the 

 same procedure, and with the same result. Do not cases like the 

 above go far to prove that many birds are highly intelligent aiul pos- 

 sess a good degree of memory ? The Sparrow^ in question discovered 

 a moth, doubtless by accident, concealed beneath the overlaping edge 

 of the top-board of a fence-post. Was he content with simply gob- 

 bling this one up '? By no means ; if there is one there may be 

 more, and sure enough he soon spies another, and, going to the next 

 post, still another, and so on till he is satisfied. Next day, when 

 searching for breakfast, does he forget yesterday's experience ? Not 

 at all; he returns to the fence-posts and readily secures another 

 meal. The chance finding of the first moth has led to the knowledge 

 that similar insects take refuge, by day, in certain places ; and in the 



* A History of the Birds of Europe, including all the species inhabiting the West- 

 ern Palfearctic Eegion. By H. E. Dresser. Part XLVIII, March. 1876. 

 Trans. ConxX. Acad., Vol. IV. 6 Ju^y, 1877. 



