BIRDS OF INDIANA. 971 



of its frequenting the thickets of low lands and swampy places gen- 

 erally localities usually but little visited by most persons it is not 

 often observed. It Was noted at Bloomington, March 5, 1895, where 

 it remained until April 19. The following dates give extremes of first 

 appearance in spring: Brookville, April 11, 1884, April 25, 1885; 

 Lafayette, March 6, 1894, April 27, 1897; Laporte, April 2, 1894; 

 Terre Haute, March 28, 1888; Kichmond, April 16, 1897; Waterloo, 

 March 17, 1894, April 11, 1896; Chicago, 111., March 28, 1895, April 

 1, 1897. They usually have all passed by the latter part of April, but 

 were reported from Terre Haute May 1, 1890; Richmond, May 10, 

 1897; and several were seen at 'English Lake, May 10, 1891. 



In the fall they are observed leaving their summer homes early in 

 October, and at that time begin to appear in the southern part of the 

 State. They were reported from Cook County, 111., October 6, 1893, 

 and October 12, 1895, and were noted at Brookville, Ind., October 

 5, 1897. They have not been reported as breeding south of the north- 

 ern tier of counties. They are known to breed commonly in Cook 

 County, 111., and in Lake County, Ind., and tolerably commonly in 

 Dekalb County. There it sings its song, but during the migrations 

 it is songless. Beginning in May, it continues singing, with a slight 

 interruption in August or September, until October. Its fall song is 

 pronounced its best. Mr. Nehrling says its song resembles the syl- 

 lables, chee--chee-chee-chee-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze, and declares that while it 

 resembles somewhat the melody of the Field Sparrow, it is louder and 

 more varied. He says: "Its food consists of small caterpillars, beetles, 

 worms and such insects as are usually found near water. During 

 fall and winter they eat largely of the seeds of weeds and grasses" 

 (N. A. Birds, Pt. XII., pp. 161, 162). Prof. King examined 25 speci- 

 mens: 13 ate seeds of grasses, sedges, etc.; 1, an ichneumon fly; 1, a 

 chalcidian (?); 1, a moth; 6, 13 beetles; 2, 2 hemiptera; 2, 2 grasshop- 

 pers; 1, 6 snails, and 5, 13 larvae (Geol. of Wis., I., p. 537). 



135. GENUS PASSERELLA SWAIXSON. 



228. (585). Passerella iliaca (MERR.). 



Fox Sparrow. 



Synonym, FOX-COLORED SPARROW. 



Above, bluish-ashy, more or less marked with rufous and rufous- 

 brown; bright rufous on upper tail-coverts and tail; wings, edged 

 with rufous, with two narrow white cross bars. Below, white; sides 

 heavily streaked with brown; breast and other forward parts, marked 

 with triangular spots and pointed streaks of black and rufous; bill, 

 yellow below; darker above. 



