324 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 



that pugnacious tramp, passer domesticus. They are still com- 

 mon throughout the country, where they are everywhere welcomed 

 as early harbingers of spring, and in the fall they linger till late 

 in October, as if loth to depart. This species was a special 

 favorite with Wilson, on account of which it is often spoken of 

 as Wilson's Bluebird, to distinguish it from the Indigo bird, and 

 one or two other species to which the name is sometimes applied. 



That enthusiastic lover of birds has made it the subject of 

 one of his pleasing poetical effusions, in which he faithfully 

 describes many of its habits, amongst others its earl)'- arrival in 

 spring and reluctant departure in thefall. With a short extract 

 from this production I will say good-bye, for the present, to the 

 "Birds of Ontario." 



" When all the gay scenes of the summer are o'er, 

 And autumn slow enters so silent and sallow, 

 And millions of warblers which charmed us before 

 Have fled in the train of the sun-seeking Swallow, 

 The Bluebird forsaken, yet true to its home. 

 Still lingers and looks for a milder to-morrow. 

 Till forced by the [rigors] of winter to roam, 

 It sings its adieu in a lone note of sorrow." 



