THE SONG-FINCH. 149 



and activity, and sometimes cross shallow waters leg-deep. To the eastward, 

 they often frequent orchards and large gardens, but seldom approach houses. 



My friend Dr. T. M. Brewer, of Boston, has sent me the following 

 remarks: — "I think there is good reason for believing that two distinct 

 species are confounded under the name of Fringilla melodia. I have long 

 observed the striking differences exhibited by eggs supposed to belong to 

 this bird, and within a few months Mr. Cabot has pointed out to me a 

 uniform difference of plumage, which always accompanies this difference of 

 the eggs. One of these supposed species has been painted by Wilson. It 

 differs in having its breast more universally spotted, while that of the other 

 is much less so, except in the centre, where a number of confluent spots 

 form a distinct star. This last bird is the one painted by you, and is by far 

 the most common. The former builds its nest in bushes or young trees at 

 least two feet from the ground. The most common resort for this purpose 

 is a young cedar tree, where the branches are very thick, where I have 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 other 

 always builds on the ground. I have found in the nest of the former six 

 eggs, but never more than five in that of the latter. The egg of Wilson's 

 bird is larger and less pointed at the small end, the ground-colour, so far as 

 it can be seen, appears to be white, but the whole of the egg is so thickly 

 spotted with blotches of a rusty brown as to appear almost wholly of that 

 colour. The eggs of your bird are of a less size, the smallest end obtuse, the 

 ground-colour of a distinct light green, and perceptible over the whole egg, 

 not even excepting the larger end, where the spots of lilac-brown, with 

 which the egg is spangled over, are the thickest. These differences are 

 uniform. There is still another, which should not be overlooked. The 

 former is always known to breed apart from the habitations of man, in old 

 orchards and pastures; the other is often fouud to build its nest in our gar- 

 dens, and not unfrequently under our windows. Such coincident differences 

 cannot be merely casual, and therefore I do not see why birds differing in 

 plumage, nest, and eggs, as well as in habits, should not be regarded as dis- 

 tinct species." 



I have placed a pair of Song Sparrows on a twig of the huckleberry bush 

 in blossom. This species sometimes grows to the height of six or seven feet, 

 and produces a fine berry in great abundance. Huckleberries of every sort 

 are picked by women and children, and sold in the eastern markets in great 

 profusion. They are used for tarts, but in my opinion are better when eaten 

 fresh. 



Breeds from Texas to Nova Scotia. Not observed in Kentucky. Winter 

 resident in the Southern States. Very abundant. 



Vol. III. 25 



