THE SONG-EINOH. 
149 
and activity, and sometimes cross shallow waters leg-deep. To the eastward, 
they often frequent orchards and large gardens, hut seldom approach houses. 
My friend Dr. T. M. Brewer, of Boston, has sent me the following 
remarks : — “ I think there is good reason for, believing that two distinct 
species are confounded under the name of Fringilla melodia. I have long 
observed the striking differences exhibited by eggs supposed to belong to 
this bird, and within a few months Mr. Cabot has pointed out to me a 
uniform difference of plumage, which always accompanies this difference of 
the eggs. One of these supposed species has been painted by Wilson. It 
differs in having its breast more universally spotted, while that of the other 
is much less so, except in the centre, where a number of confluent spots 
form a distinct star. This last bird is the one painted by you, and is by far 
the most common. The former builds its nest in bushes or young trees at 
least two feet from the ground. The most common resort for this purpose 
is a young cedar tree, where the branches are very thick, where I have 
twice found an arched entrance leading to it, and a cover to the nest, made 
by weaving straw and hay among the thick foliage of the tree. The other 
always builds on the ground. I have found in the nest of the former six 
eggs, but never more than five in that of the latter. The egg of Wilson’s 
bird is larger and less pointed at the small end, the ground-colour, so far 
as it can be seen, appears to be white, but the whole of the egg is so thickly 
spotted with blotches of a rusty brown as to appear almost wholly of that 
colour. The eggs of your bird are of a less size, the smallest end obtuse, 
the ground-colour of a distinct light green, and perceptible over the whole 
egg, not even excepting the larger end, where the spots of lilac-brown, with 
which the egg is spangled over, are the thickest. These differences are 
uniform. There is still another, which should not be overlooked. The 
former is always known to breed apart from the habitations of man, in old 
orchards and pastures ; the other is often found to build its nest in our gar- 
dens, and not unfrequently under our windows. Such coincident differ- 
ences cannot be merely casual, and therefore I do not see' why birds differ- 
ing in plumage, nest, and eggs, as well as in habits, should not be regarded 
as distinct species.” 
I have placed a pair of Song Sparrows on a twig of the huckleberry bush 
in blossom. This species sometimes grows to the height of six or seven feet, 
and produces a fine berry in great abundance. Huckleberries of every sort 
are picked by women and children, and sold in the eastern markets in great 
profusion. They are used for tarts, but in my opinion are better when eaten 
fresh. 
Breeds from Texas to Nova Scotia. Not observed in Kentucky. Winter 
resident in the Southern States. Very abundant. 
Yol. III. 25 
