40 
Bulletin of the at nr a I History Soeiety. 
65. SONG SPARROW. {Melospiza faseiata). 
A common summer resident ; breeds. The average date 
of the arrival of this species is between the 7th and 1 5th of 
Ai)ril, thougli the time of its coming, as indeed the coming 
of all our summer residents, varies very much, and is influ- 
enced by the condition of the season to the southward, for 
when the reports from Boston and Portland indicate a con- 
tinued unusually high temperature, the birds are sure to come 
this far, even though the helds are covered deep with snow ; 
but if, as it sometimes happens, our season is the more ad- 
vanced, the fields bare, and the air soft and balmy, while to 
the southward the cold still lingers, the birds are late in 
arriving here. 
We look upon this species as our first spring arrival, for 
though that semi-vagabond trio — Robin, Snowbird, and 
Crow — are generally at this time well represented, they are 
such an uncertain lot we are never quite sure these fellows 
may not have been lurking about the forests all winter living 
by their wits ; but when we hear the sweet carol of the Song 
Sparrow, we know the spring-time has surely come. 
We found broods of young birds flying at Hampton on 
June 20, 1881. 
66. SWAMP SPARROW. {Melospiza palustris). 
An uncommon summer resident; breeds. 
67. FOX-COLORED SPARROW. (Passerellailiaca.) 
This species passes through here on its way to a more 
northern summer resort, and again on its way south in the 
fall — though in this latter visit very few individuals appear, 
and but for a few days. 
It can scarcely be called a true spring migrant, for usually 
the winter is still with us when it appears (about the first 
week in March ), though on rare occasions it has been late in 
coming, and been greeted with bare fields and warm sun- 
shine ; and then, instead of the customary and simple, though 
contented, “ tchip,” with which it announces its presence, it 
has voiced its joy in such an exquisite melody that we have 
longed to have it stay. 
