Birds of Massachusetts. 155 
the sweetness of its song. This cheerful and pleasant 
note is heard, in the near vicinity of human dwell- 
ings, from trees, stakes, and fences, and if it were 
not one “ofthe 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 advances. 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 sometimes on the ground. They have been 
known to resort to a hollow tree. The nest is usu- 
ally 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 indus- 
trious, 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 neglected. 
The Savannan Sparrow, Fringilla Savanna, is 
rare, compared with the preceding, and is most com- 
