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THE FOX-COLOURED SPARROW. 



Fringilla iliac a, Merrem. 



PLATE CVIII. Male and Female. 



Although the Fox-coloured Sparrow visits us regularly at the ap- f 

 proach of winter, it merely remains during the few months of the year 

 which are too severe in the more northern parts of our continent, where it 

 resides at all other periods. It wanders, however, as far southward as the 

 lower parts of Louisiana, is also met with in Kentucky, and in the coun- 

 tries bordering on the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi, and visits the Flo- 

 ridas, Georgia, the Carolinas, and in short every State south of Massa- 

 chusetts. In the latter State, and in that of Maine, few individuals are 

 seen after its passage through these districts, late in October. 



In the northern parts of America, where it breeds, it replaces the 

 Towhe Bunting, so abundant in our middle States, where it delights us with 

 its song. To that species the Fox-coloured Sparrow comes next in siz#- 

 while it greatly surpasses it in its musical powers. 



While in the United States, it lives retired, and separates itself from 

 most other species. Little flocks, consisting of a family or two, take pos- 

 session of some low well-covered thicket, by the side of some clear stream- 

 let, where they spend the winter unmolested, searching for food among 

 the fallen and withered leaves, or among the roots and dead branches of 

 trees. Should a warm morning dawn on their retreat, the male birds 

 directly ascend to the middle branches of the brambles, and in a soft un- 

 der tone cheer the females with their melodies. At all other times they 

 remain comparatively silent, merely emitting a note to call each other, or 

 to assure their little family that all is safe around them. Towards spring 

 a kind of bvistle takes place in their camp : the males, already warmed 

 with affection and love, renew their attentions to their mates ; new con- 

 nections are formed by the young ; their song becomes much improved ; 

 and the passer by may here and there see a pair moving slowly and cau- 

 tiously towards the land whence they had emigrated some months before. 



Follow these birds wherever you will, you invariably find them not in 

 deep woods, but along the fences, and amid patches of briars and tangled 

 underwood, which at all times seem so pleasing to them. They traverse 



