BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 323 



sparrow in its winter plumage. The size is different ; but the 

 point must be left for future observations to decide. 



The Song Sparrow, Fringilla melodia, is a well-known 

 bird, very common in all parts of New England, and richly 

 deserves its name. It comes in company with the blue-bird, 

 and though it has no pretension to the beauty of its friend, 

 exceeds it in the sweetness of its song. This cheerful and 

 pleasant note is heard, in the near vicinity of human dwellings, 

 from trees, stakes, and fences, and if it were not one of the 

 most familiar sounds of summer, would be universally admired. 

 This bird is common in Louisiana, in winter, and comes to 

 the north before the snows have left the ground. From the 

 time of its arrival we hear its unwearied note at all hours of 

 the day, growing louder and more animated as the spring ad- 

 vances. It frequents fields and meadows, which afford the 

 insects which it is active in destroying. It also enjoys the 

 vicinity of water, in which it is fond of bathing. It has been 

 known to swim to some distance when disabled from flying. 



The song-sparrows build sometimes in a bush, and some- 

 times on the ground. They have been known to resort to a 

 hollow tree. The nest is usually made of dried grass with a 

 lining of hair. The eggs are greenish white, speckled or 

 spotted with umber, chiefly toward the larger end. Audubon 

 inquires, why it is, that they never use the same nest twice, 

 when they raise two or three broods in a season, and always 

 keep it so scrupulously clean ? The obvious reply is, that a 

 bird so neat and industrious, is the very one most likely to 

 take the trouble of building a new nest ; while a bird more 

 slovenly and indolent, would re-occupy its old abode, from 

 the same aversion to labor which induced it to leave it neg- 

 lected. 



The Savannah Sparrow, Fringilla Savanna, is rare, com- 

 pared with the preceding, and is most common near the sea. 

 Its song is animated, though far inferior to that of the song- 

 sparrow. Though it is very hardy, it proceeds to the south 



