AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



65 



from a greenish to a grayish white. The markings on these vary in al- 

 most endless pattern. On some the ground color is entirely obscured 

 by the numerous spots and blotches of reddish brown and chestnut. On 

 others the dots are minute and mostly scattered around the larger end. 

 There are few eggs that show the diversity of markings that may be 

 found among these. These Sparrows generally rear two broods of 

 young each year and under favorable circumstances often three. 



HABITS. 



Only Sparrows; plain little brown ground Sparrows. How many 

 would pass them unnoticed and look only for some more gaudily attired 

 bird. Yet those brown coats cover some of the sweetest and most at- 

 tractive birds found in this country. In New England the Song Spar- 

 rows come with the first signs of approaching spring, and the snow and 

 ice seem literally to melt away under the warmth and fervedness of their 

 songs. From the time of their arrival till their departure late in the fall, 

 they are one continual outburst of melody. 



NEST AND EGGS OF SONG SPARROW. 



