120 BIRDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN 



by a twittering which is characteristic of 

 the species. Especially does it give this 

 when it passes from one tree to another. 



Mr. Maurice C. Blake furnishes two 

 early autumn records, namely, one of three 

 birds present in the Garden on September 

 24, and the other of one bird on October 5, 

 in 1904. 



52. SONG SPARROW 



Melospiza melodia 



The Song Sparrow, or Ground Sparrow, 

 always comes in good numbers at the open- 

 ing of spring. Usually a little flock is pre- 

 sent, but there are many occurrences of one 

 or two birds only in a day; and intervals 

 occur between successive migration move- 

 ments when none are present. The species 

 is one of the earliest to arrive, some birds 

 coming each year at the same time that 

 the earliest grackles and robins come. The 

 ice is scarcely gone from the pond, and 

 patches of snow still linger, when the cheery 

 song is first heard upon a mild morning in 

 early or middle March, which has been 



