16 THE CONDOR ; Vol. X°XII 
consists chiefly of ants, which are fed to the young in the form of a paste. Many 
thousands of ants must be consumed by the family in a single dav. 
It is truly a wonderful experience, not devoid of little thrills and excite- 
ments, to watch and picture such handsome birds in the course of their parental 
routine, almost at arms length; and the beautiful enlargements on the walls in 
my home serve to recall the many pleasant hours which I have spent in field 
photography. 
Kansas City, Missour, September 21, 1919. 
THE RUSTY SONG SPARROW IN BERKELEY, 
AND THE RETURN OF WINTER BIRDS 
By AMELIA §S. ALLEN 
N March 29, 1919, a Yakutat Fox Sparrow (Passerella iiaca meruloides), 
one of half a dozen Fox Sparrows which come regularly to my window for 
food, was accidentally caught in the house. J took the opportunity, be- 
fore setting it free, to band the bird, as I wished to get some evidence as to the 
identity of the individuals which come from year to year to this particular feed- 
ing-table. This banded bird remained several weeks after he had been marked, 
but emigrated, about April 21, with the rest of his kind, no doubt to Alaska to 
spend the summer months. In the fall, returning Fox Sparrows were noted as 
early as September 25, but it was not till November 3 that the banded Fox Spar- 
row was seen. 
This is the first instance in which I have been able to prove, what I have 
long suspected to be a fact, that a migratory bird has returned to a favorite niche 
after its long journey to and from its summer home. The behavior of the group 
of birds which feed at my table has been very convincing to the daily observer, 
but an actual tag brings the matter quite up to certainty. These half dozen Fox 
Sparrows are practically alike, presenting no marks to differentiate male from 
female, old from young. No doubt part of the number each year:are birds of 
the year, but now I am sure of at least one adult that has been here before. 
Among the Golden-crowned Sparrows a few are definitely in juvenal plum- 
age. These, during the early part of the season, are quite nervous when they 
come to the table, raising the crown feathers and stretching the neck and legs, 
alert in every muscle. This attitude contrasts strongly with the squat position of 
the birds in adult plumage which settle down to a comfortable at-homeness which _ 
argues very favorably for their having been here before. 
It was, however, the case of the Rusty Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia 
rufina) which made me feel most firmly convinced that the same birds were re- 
turning year after year. I first made the acquaintance of the Rusty Song Spar- 
row on January 5, 1915. It was easy to see that the newcomer was not a Santa 
Cruz Song Sparrow, for he was perceptibly larger and at a little distance seemed 
to be colored a uniform reddish brown except for a light line over the eye. Closer 
scrutiny revealed the fact that the reddish brown of the back was streaked with 
a darker shade and that the breast was buffy, densely spotted with brown. These 
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