4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



iiiakc's a short halt, procoe(li»j> farther north to breed. Bischoil' obtained a 

 specimen at Sitka. Mr. Kennieott found its nest and egj^s on the Yukon, 

 and Mr. Dall obtn'ned it at Xuhito, and more sparin^^ly below that point. 

 Mr. JMaeFarlane met with it breeding in large numbers at Fort Anderson. 

 The nests were in various situations, the larger proportion on the ground, a 

 few in Ijushes near tiie ground, anil only one is mentioned as having been 

 several feet above it. One was in the cleft of a low willow on the edge of 

 a small lake ; another, in a bush, was nearly four feet from the ground ; and 

 a third was in a clump of willows and fourteen inches above the ground. 

 Nearly all the other nests mentioned were built directly upon the ground. 



The nests were constructed of dry bark and grasses, loosely put together, 

 and very warmly lined with feathers. On the ground they were usually 

 concealed in a tuft of grass. In all instances the female alone was found 

 on the nests, the male being very rarely seen in their vicinity. The usual 

 number of eggs in a nest was four or five, occasionally si.x, and even seven. 



Dr. Suckley ol)tained a single siiecimen at Fort Dalles, and Dr. Cooper 

 saw a flock in September, 1863, and again in 1864 at the mouth of the 

 Columbia. Lieutenant Bryan met witli them among the liocky Mountains 

 in latitude 39°, in August. INIr. Eidgway found them very conmion during 

 the winter in the interior. 



Dr. Cones found this Sparrow common in all the wooded districts of Lab- 

 rador. It was very tame and unsuspiciou.s, showing no fear even when closely 

 approached. I liave never met with any, in summer, in any part of New 

 Brunswick or Nova Scotia. 



This Sparrow is occasionally abundant in ^lassachusetts early in October, 

 but rarely appears in full n\imbers until Novendjer. Some remain in the 

 gardens in and about Boston during the winter, and during November the 

 marshes of Fresh Pond are tilled with them, when their wailing autunmal 

 chant is in marked contrast with the sweet and sprightly song with which 

 they enliven the spring, just before they are abont to depart for their sum- 

 mer homes. They remain until the latter part of April, and Mr. Allen has 

 observed them at Springfield till about the first of jMay. 



In regard to tlieir song, Mr. William Brewster informs me tliat they usu- 

 ally commence singing about the U.lth of March. Their song is a loud, clear, 

 and powerful chant, starting with two high notes, then i'alling rapidly, and 

 ending with a low, sweet warl)le. Me has heard a few singing with their 

 full vigor in November and December, but this is rare. 



Dr. Cones found them not common in South Carolina, but Dr. Kennerly 

 states that they were quite abundant in Decend)er on the Little Colorado, in 

 New Mexico, feeding on the fruit of the wild grape and upon .seeds. 



During the love-season the Tree Sjiarrow is quite a fine musician, its 

 song resembling tliat of the Canary, but finer, sweeter, and not so loud. In 

 their migrations, Mr. Audul)on states, a Hock of twenty or more will perch 

 upon the same tree, and join in a delightful chorus. Tiieir flight is elevated 



