FINCHES. 221 



I have seen them in village streets, and have at other times 

 approached within five yards of them, when occupied in 

 picking <ip their food. When frightened, they do not dive 

 into thickets or bushes, as some other Sparrows do. Their 

 flight when short is low, when long is high, but at aU times is 

 rapid. The Tree Sparrows do not mingle much with other 

 species, but seem to prefer one another's society, generally 

 living in peace, though occasionally an unpleasantness takes 

 place, when a brief combat ensues. In April they return to 

 the north, but those who have passed the winter further to the 

 southward than Massachusetts return at this season, sometimes 

 lingering here until the second week of May.^^ These spring 

 migrants associate somewhat with other birds, and are, more- 

 over, rather more shy than those who have been winter visitors 

 in the same neighborhood. I have occasionally seen them in 

 the " scrub," when they were quite wild and quickly took to 

 flight on a near approach. 



d. The ordinary note of the Tree Sparrows is a chip, which 

 is more or less characteristic, and yet resembles that of the 

 Chipping Sparrow. When they fight, these birds utter queru- 

 lous but still musical twitters, which recall their own song 

 rather than any of the Chipper's notes. The following passage 

 is a quotation from Dr. Brewer's accomit of the Tree Spar- 

 rows, and describes their music as fully as it would be possible 

 for me to do : " . . . During November, the marshes of Fresh 

 Pond^' are filled with them, when their wailing autumnal 

 chant is in marked contrast with the sweet and lively song, 

 with which they enliven the spring, just before they are about 

 to depart for their summer homes." " In regard to their 

 song, Mr. William Brewster informs me that they usually 

 commence singing about the 25th of March. Their song is a 

 loud, clear, and powerful chant, starting with two high notes, 

 then falling rapidly and ending with a low, sweet warble. 

 He has heard a few singing with their full vigor in November 

 and December, but this is rare." " During the love-season, 

 the Tree Sparrow is quite a fine musician, its song resembling 



'^ They must not tlien te confused *' At Cambridge, 

 with the Chipping Sparrows (A). 



