SPARROWS 



(583) Melospiza lincoini lin= 



COlni {Auduhon) 



LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Plum- 

 age as shown. Upper parts dull 

 brown, each feather with a black 

 streak in the centre; crown more 

 rufous and with a hght median line; a 

 light gray superciliary line; below dull 

 white, washed across the breast and 

 along the sides with buff, and finely 

 streaked with black; wings with con- 

 siderable rufous on the secondaries 

 and greater coverts. L., 5.75; W., 

 2.50; T., 2.40. Nest — Of weeds and 

 fine grasses; on the ground in tufts 

 of grass or under small shrubs. 



Range — Breeds from N. B., Ont., 

 northern N. Y. and ]\Iinn. north to 

 Ungava, Keewatin and Mackenzie. 

 Winters from our southern border 

 southward. 



ROW. While in the east we have but a single species, in 

 the western half of our country are a dozen races of Song 

 Sparrows, each differing a little or sometimes a great deal be- 

 cause of environments or cHmatic changes, but still all 

 typical Song Sparrows, the same happy, demonstrative birds 

 that we are accustomed to see in the east. 



A few Song Sparrows spend the winter in northern states; 

 as soon as the weather shows signs of moderation, others 

 come bringing good cheer and melody with them. Their 

 songs are not gifted operatic performances, they are better. 

 They are simple home songs, distinctive and pleasing to 

 every one. The rhythm is apparent from the following local 

 interpretations of their songs: "Maids, maids, maids, hang 

 on your teakettle-ettle-ettle " and "Peace, peace, peace, be 

 unto you, my children. " As soon as the sun appears over 

 the horizon, their concert commences and the last lay is not 

 heard until after it has disappeared in the western sky. 



Few birds live as peaceably with all other kinds, in fields, 



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