On the Natural History of the Rosignol. 47 



provided witli instincts for tlie production of its species. If 

 the insect is a parasite on two plants, it is not at a loss to discover 

 one of tliem ; but deprive it of one of these plants.^ and the result 

 is that the remaining one suffers doubly. It is astonishing to- 

 vritness the raanceuvres of these minute animals to sustain 

 nature. Every type of cieation is destined to pass through its 

 course of life ; and we find, as one species becomes extinct, another 

 hitherto unknown to us, springs up, as if by magic, in some 

 other part of the globe, to fill up the vacancy. Of this wheat 

 parasite I shall uaake some further remarks. It is not known at 

 present ; and until we do enquire into its origin and habits, much 

 cannot be said of it. 



ARTICLE VII.— 0« the Natural Histm-y of the Rosignol or 



Song Sparrow, Fringilla melodia. 



This interesting little bird is one of the first to proclaim with 

 his song the return of spring, with its wood-music, flowers and 

 soft southern breezes. His note is no sooner heard than all na- 

 ture seems to arouse itself from the torpor of winter and burst 

 forth into an universal revivification. No Canadian can listen to 

 the sweet ditty of the rosignol, at the same time recalling the in- 

 cidents of his school-boy days, without feeling his heart M^arm 

 towards the happy little creature. It is remarkable that with res- 

 pect to so very common a bird, there should yet be a doubt as to 

 its correct specific description. Audubon figures it with a black 

 spot near the centre of the breast, but does not mention this spot 

 in his summary of the characters of the species. He, however 

 quotes Dr. Brewer, who says that he has reason to believe that 

 there are two birds included under the same appellation. One of 

 these has the breast spotted nearly all over, while the other has 

 the black star in the centre. He says, the latter builds its nest in 

 bushes or young trees at least two feet fi-om the ground, and the 

 other always upon the ground. He says, the most common resort for 

 nesting is a young cedar tree where the branches are very thick^ 

 and where he has twice found an arched entrance leading to it 

 and a cover to the nest, made by weaving straw and hay among 

 the thick foliage of the tree. The eggs have a ground colour of 

 green, which is perceptible all over the surface,, not even exceptino- 



