148 
THE SONG-FINCH. 
bird constructs. I am unable to understand the reason why a new nest is 
formed. Can you, reader, solve the question ? 
I have at all times been very partial to the Song Sparrow ; for although its 
attire is exceedingly plain, it is pleasing to hear it, in the Middle States, 
singing earlier in spring, and later in autumn, than almost any other bird. 
Its song is sweet, of considerable duration, and performed at all hours of the 
day. It nestles sometimes on trees, and sometimes on the ground. I have 
imagined that the old birds, finding by experience the insecurity of their 
ordinary practice of nestling on the ground, where the eggs are often 
devoured by Crows, betake themselves to the bushes to conceal their nests 
from their enemies. But, whatever may be the reason, the fact certainly 
exists, and the nests of the Song Sparrow occur in both kinds of situation. 
The nest for the first brood is prepared, and the eggs laid, sometimes as early 
as the 15th of April. The young are out by the first week of May. The 
third brood is seen by the middle of September. The nest, when on the 
ground, is well sunk in the earth, and is placed at the roots of tall grasses. 
It is made of fine grass, and lined with hair, principally horse-hair. The 
number of eggs is from five to seven, usually from four to six, excepting 
those for the last brood, which I have seldom found to exceed three. They 
are of a very broad ovate form, light greenish-white, speckled with dark 
umber, the specks larger toward the greater end. The male assists in the 
process of incubation, during which one of the birds feeds the other in suc- 
cession. At this time the male is often to be observed singing on the top 
of a neighbouring bush, low tree, or fence-rail. 
The flight of the Song Sparrow is short, and much undulated, when the 
bird is high in the air, but swifter and more level when it is near the ground. 
They migrate by night, singly or in straggling troops. Some of them remain 
the whole winter in the Middle Districts, where they are not unfrequently 
heard to sing, if the weather prove at all pleasant. The greater part, how- 
ever, seek the Southern States, where myriads of Sparrows of different kinds 
are everywhere to be seen in low swampy situations, such as they at all 
periods prefer. It is a fine plump bird, and becomes very fat and juicy. It 
is picked up in great numbers by the Hen-harriers, which visit us for the 
purpose of feeding on the different kinds of Sparrows that resort to these 
States in winter from the Middle Districts. In Louisiana, they are frequently 
seen to ascend to the tops of large trees, and there continue for some time 
singing their agreeable chant, after which they dive again into the low 
bushes, or amongst the rank weeds which grow wherever a stream is to be 
found. They feed on grass-seeds, some berries and insects, especially grass- 
hoppers, and now and then pursue flies on the wing. On the ground their 
motions are lively. They continue running about with great nimbleness 
