125 



SONG SPARROW. 

 FEIjYGILLA MELODIA. 

 [Plate XVI.— Fig. 4.] 



^ Fasciated Finch? Jrct. ZooL p. 375, No. 252.— Pe ale's Museum, No. 6573. 



SO nearly do many species of our Sparrows approximate to 

 each other in plumage, and so imperfectly have they been taken 

 notice of, that it is absolutely impossible to say, with certainty, whe- 

 ther the present species has ever been described or not. And yet, 

 of all our Sparrows, this is the most numerous, the most generally 

 diffused over the United States, and by far the earliest, sweetest, 

 and most lasting songster. It may be said to be partially migra- 

 tory, many passing to the south in the month of November; and 

 many of them still remaining with us, in low close sheltered mea- 

 dows and swamps, during the whole of winter. It is the first sing- 

 ing bird in spring, taking precedence even of the Pewee and Blue- 

 bird. Its song continues occasionally during the whole summer 

 and Fall ; and is sometimes heard even in the depth of winter. 

 The notes, or chant, are short but very sweet, resembling the be- 

 ginning of the Canary's song, and frequently repeated, generally 

 from the branches of a bush or small tree, where it sits chanting 

 for an hour together. It is fond of frequenting the borders of 

 rivers, meadows, swamps, and such like watery places; and if 

 wounded, and unable to fly, will readily take to the water, and 

 swim with considerable rapidity. In the great cypress swamps of 

 the southern states in the depth of winter, I observed multitudes of 

 these birds mixed with several other species ; for these places ap- 

 pear to be the grand winter rendezvous of almost all our Spar- 



VOL. II. I i 



