yo PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



mountain roads in the roadside banks, and high on the moun- 

 tains among the scrub growth at or near their summits. Nest- 

 ings probably occur on the bare summit of Mt. Washington. 

 Frequently in passing along a mountain road the female is seen 

 to leave her nest, when we are approaching its location, and the 

 eggs or young are disclosed. Invariably the nest is set into the 

 bank, so that it has a protecting roofing. 



In 1908 a pair chose a very unusual location, and the nest 

 was built in the woodbine on our piazza. It was begun on 

 July 12 and was placed about seven feet above the floor and 

 eight feet above the ground. It rested on several stouter stems 

 of the vine, but lacked the firm setting which the solid ground 

 always furnishes the Junco for her nest. The nest was com- 

 pleted and two eggs had been laid, when on July 19 a severe 

 easterly storm came which so racked the nest and tipped it 

 that the eggs fell out and were broken. The birds then deserted 

 it. In this case the boarding of the piazza roof reached some- 

 what over the nest and afforded it the customary protecting 

 cover above, but the instability of the setting was very unlike 

 the Junco's practice of building upon the solid ground. During 

 the brief time that the birds were occupied with the nesting 

 they were much about on the floor of the piazza, and the male 

 bird sang from the vine and the railing, quite as the Chippies 

 behave which select the vine for their nestings. 



Nests with three to five eggs have been found on various 

 dates from June 13 to August 4. Song continues to the end of 

 July or a week into August, after which it is rarely heard. In 

 October large flocks of migrating birds appear and pass. On 

 September 30 and again on October 4, 1910, such flocks were 

 estimated to number 200 birds each. 



120. Melospiza melodia melodia. Song Sparrow. 



An abundant summer resident and spring and fall migrant, 

 found in all the open country and in clearings in the woods, 

 about lumber-camps, and along logging roads. The song con- 

 tinues to the middle of August, or somewhat later, and is not 



