148 THE SONG-FINCH. 



bird constructs. I am unable to understand the reason why a new nest is 

 formed. Can you, reader, solve the question? 



I have at all times been very partial to the Song Sparrow; for although its 

 attire is exceedingly plain, it is pleasing to hear it, in the Middle States, 

 singing earlier in spring, and later in autumn, than almost any other bird. 

 Its song is sweet, of considerable duration, and performed at all hours of the 

 day. It nestles sometimes on trees, and sometimes on the ground. I have 

 imagined that the old birds, finding by experience the insecurity of their 

 ordinary practice of nestling on the ground, where the eggs are often 

 devoured by Crows, betake themselves to the bushes to conceal their nests 

 from their enemies. But whatever may be the reason, the fact certainly 

 exists, and the nests of the Song Sparrow occur in both kinds of situation. 

 The nest for the first brood is prepared, and the eggs laid, sometimes as early 

 as the 15th of April. The young are out by the first week of May. The 

 third brood is seen by the middle of September. The nest, when on the 

 ground, is well sunk in the earth, and is placed at the roots of tall grasses. 

 It is made of fine grass, and lined with hair, principally horse-hair. The 

 number of eggs is from five to seven, usually from four to six, excepting 

 those for the last brood, which I have seldom found to exceed three. They 

 are of a very broad ovate form, light greenish-white, speckled with dark 

 umber, the specks larger toward the greater end. The male assists in the 

 process of incubation, during which one of the birds feeds the other in suc- 

 cession. At this time the male is often to be observed singing on the top of 

 a neighbouring bush, low tree, 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 straggling troops. Some of them remain 

 the whole winter in the Middle Districts, where they are not unfrequently 

 heard to sing, if the weather prove at all pleasant. The greater part, how- 

 ever, seek the Southern States, where myriads of Sparrows of different kinds 

 are everywhere to be seen in low swampy situations, such as they at all 

 periods prefer. It is a fine plump bird, and becomes very fat and juicy. It 

 is picked up in great numbers by the Hen-harriers, which visit us for the 

 purpose of feeding on the different kinds of Sparrows that resort to these 

 States in winter from the Middle Districts. In Louisiana, they are frequently 

 seen to ascend to the tops of large trees, and there continue for some time 

 singing their agreeable chant, after which they dive again into the low 

 bushes, or amongst the rank weeds which grow wherever a stream is to be 

 found. They feed on grass-seeds, some berries and 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 nimbleness 



