78 
FIELD BUNTING. 
the nearest bushes, but the next moment return to the ground. They leave 
the south as early as March, move northwards as the season advances, and 
appear in the States of New York and Pennsylvania about the middle of 
April. 
The song of the Field Sparrow is remarkable, although not fine. It trills 
its notes like a young Canary Bird, and now and then emits emphatical, 
though not very distinct sounds of some length. One accustomed to dis- 
tinguish the notes of different birds can easily recognise the song of this 
species ; but the description of it, I confess, I am unable to accomplish, so at 
least as to afford you any tolerable idea of it. 
It is a social and peaceable bird. When the breeding season is at hand 
they disperse, move off in pairs, and throw themselves into old pastm-e 
grounds, overgrown with low bushes, on the tops of which the males may 
be heard practising their vocal powers. They usually breed on the ground, 
at the foot of a small bush or rank weed ; but I have also found several of 
their nests on the lower branches of trees, a foot or two from the ground. 
The nest is simple, fornied chiefly of fine dry grasses, in some instances 
scantily lined with horse-hair or delicate fibrous l’oots, much resembling 
hair. The eggs are from four to six, of a light ferruginous tint, produced 
by the blending of small dots of that colour. So prolific is this species, that 
I have observed a pair raise three broods in one summer, the amount of 
individuals produced being fifteen. The young run after their parents, 
leaving the nest before they can fly, and are left to shift for themselves ere 
they are fully fledged ; but as they find every where abundance of insects, 
berries, and small seeds, they contrive to get on without help. 
These birds are fond of orchards, enter -our country towns in autumn, 
alight on the tallest trees in open woods, and migrate solely by day. Their 
flight is rapid, even, and occasionally sustained ; for, when fairly alarmed, 
they move at once over fields of considerable extent. 
I saw few in Maine, and none in the British provinces, in Labrador or in 
Newfoundland. 
The colour of the bill varies with the seasons, being in winter of a dingy 
reddish-brown, and in summer assuming a tint approaching to orange. There 
is no perceptible-difference in the size or colour of the sexes. The young 
acquire their full plumage the first autumn. 
Travelling from Great Egg Harbour towards Philadelphia, I found a nest 
of this species placed at the foot of a bush growing in almost pure sand. 
Near it were the plants which you see accompanying the figure. 
From Texas to Maryland, in Kentucky and the intermediate parts, during 
winter. Breeds from Maryland to Maine. Abundant. 
