^^3-\l 'Chamberlain's JVezv BriDisrvick .Notes. '^ 



peering over his shoulder. Upon dissecting tlie female the eggs 

 wei'e found to be in an advanced condition. 



During the season the remaining pairs were seen very often 

 and closely vs^atched, but though they were undoubtedly mated 

 no completed nest was disco'vered. As the birds were exceed- 

 ingly tame and easy to approach, their plumage was closely 

 examined. No red coloring was observable, and so little differ- 

 ence was apparent between the males and the females that the 

 sex could not be determined without the aid of a glass, at more 

 ithan ten paces distant. During the breeding season they sang 

 occasionally but not loudly, their song being a short and rather 

 simple, though sweet-toned melody, Wv^hich increased in strength 

 of tone and duration toward autumn. 



Last spring the Song Sparrow and the Fox Sparrow reversed 

 the usual order of their coming, for on March 6, while we were 

 looking for the appearance of the latter, the former species ar- 

 rived in the vicinity of St. John in large flocks, accompanied by 

 a few of their White-throated cousins. 



In 1881 the Song Sparrow first appeared here on April 11, 

 which is about an average date for their arrival. From the time 

 of their coming in 1882 until late in April they imust have 

 been sorely pinched for food, for winter \was still with us, aad 

 cold snow-storms were of frequent occurrence. During this 

 period the birds were constantly about the streets of the city, and 

 in the early morning thronged the wharves and busiest thor- 

 oughfares. They were also found along the shore, but their chief 

 resort was the large tract of sand flats at the back of the town, 

 which at low water are bare, but ^with each recurrence of the 

 tide are covered by the waters of the Bay of Fundy. The mouths 

 of the sewers emptying upon these sea-washed sands were the 

 favorite feeding places for all the early comers, and through April 

 a rather motley company were daily seen there together. Snow- 

 birds, Fox, Song, and White-throated Sparrows, Robins, and 

 Purple Finches, became shore-birds for the time, and about the 

 middle of the month a party of Hermit Thrushes added their dig- 

 nified presence to the gathering, while a squad of Crows gravely 

 stalked about as undisturbed as if always accustomed to «uch 

 high-bred society, their sombre coloring forming a marked contrast 

 with the white plumes of the Herring Gulls who posed for a 

 background just where the incoming waves curled and broke 

 ,upon the sands. 



