96 Mr. Peabody on the 
it in ‘compass and power. By others, its song is 
underrated ; and the truth is that the notes of dif- 
erent individuals vary from each other, some having 
a wiery and lisping voice, while that of others is 
eminently sweet. 
The favorite haunts of this bird are meadows and 
old fields. They can walk easily on trees, but pre- 
fer the ground, where they employ themselves in 
searching for insects and berries, almost always 
associated in companies, though not very near each 
other. If a gun be fired, great numbers will start 
from different parts of the same field. They are al- 
ways gentle and retiring, and never show any dispo- 
sition to encroach upon the orchard or the garden. 
In winter, they resort to the open woods, but in 
the close, deep forests, they are never found. Some 
of them ,are seen with us late in winter; but the 
great body doubtless emigrate to the south, since 
they are found at that season in the Floridas, in 
great numbers, and some retire beyond the limits 
of the Union. 
In the pairing time, these birds select a tuft in the 
field or meadow, and there construct their nest with 
t . LI LI 94, 
coarse grass, with a lining of the same material. 
It is in the form of an oven, and is ingeniously 
concealed by matting together the blades that sur- 
round it. It is also provided with a retired avenue; 
through which only one at a time can enter. The 
eggs are white, blotched, and sprinkled with reddish 
brown. These birds are very kind and friendly to 
each other. While the female sits, the male pro- 
Vides her with food and watches over her retreat. 
