324 
SINGING BIRDS. 
ance. When not attached to the garden, our Sparrow seems 
fond of frequenting low bushy meadows, streams, swamps, and 
watery situations, which afford him ready shelter, and his usual 
food of worms, msects, larvae, and seeds. Such situations are 
also their favorite resorts when, in gregarious and miscellaneous 
flocks with other congeneric kinds, they are seen to crowd the 
sheltered marshes of the Southern States. They are also com- 
monly seen nimbly running along the ground, and gliding 
through low thickets in quest of their insect fare ; and in fine 
weather they dust themselves, and bask in the sun. They often 
likewise frequent the water, being fond of washing ; and some- 
times are seen to swim across small streams, particularly when 
disabled from flying by a gunshot wound. 
The nest is usually formed of a considerable portion of fine 
dry grass neatly put together, and mostly lined with horse-hair. 
These birds are very prolific, raising as many as three broods 
in a season, the young being occasionally hatched, in the Mid- 
dle States, from the close of April to the end of August. They 
are very solicitous for the safety of their young, keeping up at 
this time often a tiresome chirping ; and on the destruction of 
the female and most of her young, I have known the remain- 
ing male, with unceasing and anxious attention, raise a solitary 
survivor of his ruined family with the most devoted affection. 
As they keep the young and their habitation so very clean, and 
are so prolific, it is a matter of surprise that they do not re- 
occupy the premises ; instances are, however, not wanting in 
which they have been known to raise two broods in the same 
nest, both parents join in the duty of incubation, and alter- 
nately feed each other while so engaged. 
This species nests from South Carolina to Lake Mistassini, and 
from central Ohio and northern Illinois to Lake Winnipeg. It 
arrives at St. John, N. B., during the second week in April in im- 
mense flocks, and is usually accompanied by similar flocks of 
Robins and Juncos. Occasionally a few winter in the Maritime 
Provinces and in Quebec, as well as in New England. 
