48 On the Natural History of the Rosignol. 



the large end, where the spots of lilac brown with which the egg is 

 ■spangled over, are the thickest. The egg of the other species 

 ■or that which builds upon the ground, has a ground colour which 

 appears ^to be white as fer as can be seen, but the whole is so 

 thickly spotted with blotches of a rusty brown as to appear almost 

 wholly of that colour. 



Both of these birds spend the summer in Canada, and their 

 •nests may be found in almost every meadow, both on the bushes 

 :and on the ground. We hope that some of our youthful readers 

 may endeavour to solve the problem of " two species or one," 

 during the approaching season^ 



The Rosignol, after leaving us in the autumn, passes into the 

 Southern States, Avhere these birds actually swarm during our 

 winter months. This abundance, Audubon says, is easily "ac* 

 oounted for by the circumstance, that it rears three broods in the 

 year ; six in the first, five in the second, and three in the third 

 brood, making fourteen per annum from a single pair. Supposing 

 •a couple to live in health and enjoy the comforts necessary for the 

 bringing up of their young families, for a period of only ten years, 

 which is a moderate estimate for birds of this class, you will readily 

 conceive that a whole flock of sparrows, may in a very short time 

 be produced by them." 



This bird, although it leaves the nest clean and perfect after 

 the first brood, does not rear a second in the same domicile, but 

 constructs a new one. It is made of fine grass, and nicely lined 

 with hair, principally horse hair. Both birds assist in the process 

 of incubation, and while one is in the nest, the other afiectionately 

 brings it food. While the female is sitting, the male sings to her 

 from some neighbouring twig or fence rail. The flight of the 

 song sparrow is short, and much undulated when the bird is high 

 in the air, but swifter and more level when it is near the ground* 

 They migrate by night, singly or in scattered troops. They feed 

 on grass seeds, berries, insects, especially grass-hoppers, and now 

 and then pursue flies on the wing. On the ground their motions 

 are lively. They continue running about with great nimblenesa 

 and activity, and sometimes cross shallow waters leg deep. They 

 often frequent orchards and gardens, where they love to breed if 

 a secure corner can be found. 



This bird sings the whole summer long, and until it takes its de- 

 parture in the autumn. The notes or chant are short, but very 

 ■sweet, resembling the beginning of the canary's song, and fre- 



