SPECIES 5. FRINGILL^ MELODM. 
SONG SPARROW. 
[Plate XVI. — Fig. 4.] 
Fasciated Finch? Arct. Zool.p. 375,J\ro. 252. — Peale’s Museum, 
JVo. 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, 
whether 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 ear- 
liest, sweetest, and most lasting songster. It may be said to be 
partially migratory, many passing to the south in the month of 
November; and many of them still remaining with u« in low 
close sheltered meadows and swamps, during the whole of win- 
ter. It is the first singing bird in spring, taking precedence 
even of the Pewee and Blue-bird. Its song continues occasion- 
ally 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 beginning 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 ra- 
pidity. 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 appear to be the 
grand winter rendezvous of almost all our Sparrows. I have 
found this bird in every district of the United States from Ca- 
VOL. ii. — G g 
