( 22 ) 

 BROWN SONG SPARROW. 



FrINGILLA CINEREA, GmEL. 

 PLATE CCCXC. Male. 



Of this bird I have received the following account from Mr Not- 

 tall : — " This species, so much allied to Fringilla iliaca by its brown 

 colour, inhabits the woody districts of the Columbia, very generally as far 

 as the sea-coast, and continues as far south as Upper California. It is a 

 somewhat familiar and agreeable songster, moimting some low bush, 

 and singing, at intervals, for hours together, much in the manner of 

 the Song Sparrow, but with a sweeter and more varied tone. We heard 

 their cheerful notes throughout the summer ; and every fine day in 

 winter till the month of November, particularly in the morning, their 

 song was still continued. The nest and eggs are scarcely distinguishable 

 from those of the Song Sparrow, the former being chiefly formed of 

 dry grass, and lined with finer blades of the same, or with deer hair. 

 They keep much in low ground and alluvial situations, amidst rank 

 weeds and brambles, where they are frequently to be seen hopping and 

 searching after insects, like so many Wrens or Swamp Sparrows, which 

 they so much resemble also in plumage. They are as usual very soli- 

 citous for the safety of their young or eggs, keeping up an incessant 

 chirp, and are nearly the whole simnmer, like the Song Sparrow, engaged 

 in the cares of breeding. We have found this species also very com- 

 mon in Upper California. 



Dr TowNSEND speaks of it as follows : — " This species inhabits se- 

 veral hundred miles of the Platte coimtry in great numbers, as well as 

 the banks of the Colimibia River. It affects generally the low bushes 

 of wormwood (^Artemisia), from the summit of which it pours forth a 

 variety of pretty notes. It appears to be a very pugnacious species. 

 Two of them, probably males, are often observed fighting in the air ; 

 the beaten party goes off crest-fallen, and the conqueror repairs to the 

 nearest bush, where he times his pipe to a lively and triumphant stave 

 in honour of his victory. I again met with this bird, though not plen- 

 tiful, in June 1825, on the waters of the Columbia River near the 

 mouth of Lewis River. I never observed it in the vicinity of the lower 

 settlements. The sexes are almost precisely alike in plumage. 



