336 NOTES ON THE 
PASSERELLA ILIACA (MeERREM). (585.) 
FOX SPARROW. 
The earliest knowledge of this pretty sparrow I obtained, 
was from a specimen presented me by a Mr. Van Druberg, who 
collected it near the city on the 22d of September, 1870. It 
was obtained still later that year, but I have lost the precise 
date. Since then I have met with it frequently in both spring 
and fall migrations, and not infrequently associated with the 
true Snowbirds. It comes early and stays several weeks. 
My own notes through a long series of years, average the 
arrival in spring from the 1st to the 10th of April, but Mr. 
John Roberts obtained some on the 18th of March, 1878. I 
have no doubt that the average will be found about the Ist of 
April. Dr. Hvoslef found it on the 28th of March in Fillmore 
county and again on the 2nd of May, 1885, which is the latest 
record I have in spring. The earliest date of its autumnal 
arrival is September 17th, so far as I know. 
It cannot be said to be abundant, but is sub-common in ee 
lines of its favored migration. Its habits are such that it 
must be sought to be found, seldom approaching very near to 
habitations, yet often not very far away if it has the coverts of 
thickets bordering eavier timber. Mr. William Howling, for 
a great many years the principal taxidermist of Minneapolis, 
obtained a single individual in his shrubbrry on the 8th of 
April, 1875. But I have never known of another such in the 
city. 
Wilson, the immortal historian of the birds, says of this 
species:—‘‘ They are rather of a solitary nature, seldom feed- 
ing in the open fields, but generally under thickets or among 
tall, rank weeds on the edges of fields. They sometimes 
associate with the snowbirds, but more generally keep by 
themselves. Their manners very much resemble those of the 
Red-eyed Bunting; they are silent, tame and unsuspicious. 
They have generally no other note while here than a shep,shep.” 
Dr. Coues’ facile pen grows fervid while describing the Fox- 
colored Sparrows on page 161 of his ‘‘Birds of the North- 
west:”’—‘‘The Fox Sparrow enters the middle states from the 
north in October, and by the first of the following month has 
become abundant. Some linger here through the winter in 
sheltered situations, but the greater number repair further 
south early in December to reappear the latter part of Feb- 
ruary, thus escaping the coldest weather.’’ 
