— mA n 
Birds of Massachusetts. 153 
The Wurrg-rugoaTED Sparrow, Fringilla Penn- 
sylvanica, is much more abundant than the last. It 
attraets attention by its size and beauty, and still 
more by its song, which, though unvaried in tone, 
and slowly and solemnly uttered, is nevertheless, as 
heard in May mornings, one of the most delightful 
melodies of spring. It is not known in what manner 
it performs its migrations; the first news we have of 
its coming is from its own plaintive note, heard from 
the borders of the fields. The sparrows move in 
companies, and frequent hedges and thickets, where 
they Roe apon the ground and scratch for seeds. 
On an: r as 
alarm, they plunge into the deepest shade ; 
but w or der from uneasiness, they ascend to the 
highest branches and open their plaintive and em- 
phatie strain. In the warmer days, they resort more 
to the borders of woods, but the thicket is always 
their favorite home. They appear to have no great 
dread of the presence of man; but the hawks are 
very destructive to them, and the sparrows seem 
aware of their danger, and desirous to keep as much 
as possible out of their sight and reach. In New 
Hampshire their note is interpreted into a warning, 
that the time to sow wheat is come. Their stay 
does not exceed two weeks; and, when they leave 
us, they go to the far north. Dr. Richardson found 
their nests on the banks of the Great Bear Lake. 
The Bás-wmgxb Fincu, Fringilla graminea, is a 
bird, plain in appearance, but pleasant and unpre- 
tending in its song, which is constantly heard in 
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