270 
SONG SPARROW. 
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 Canada 
to the southern boundaries of Georgia ; but Mr Abbot informs 
me, that he knows of only one or two species that remain in 
that part of Georgia during the summer. 
The Song Sparrow builds in the ground, under a tuft of 
grass ; the nest is formed of line dry grass, and lined with 
horse hair ; the eggs are four or five, thickly marked with 
spots of reddish brown, on a white, sometimes bluish white, 
ground ; if not interrupted, raises three broods in the season. 
I have found liis nest with young as early as the 26th of April, 
and as late as the 12th of August. What is singular, the same 
bird often fixes his nest in a cedar tree, five or six feet from the 
ground. Supposing this to have been a variety, or different 
species, I have examined the bird, nest, and eggs, with parti- 
cular care, several times, but found no difference. I have 
observed the same accidental habit in the Red-winged Black- ; 
bird, which sometimes builds among the grass, as well as on 
alder bushes. 
This species is six inches and a half long, and eight and a 
half in extent ; upper part of the head, dark chestnut, divided 
laterally by a line of pale dirty white ; spot at each nostril, 
yellow ochre ; line over the eye, inclining to ash ; chin, white ; 
streak from the lower mandible, slit of the mouth, and poste- 
rior angle of the eye, dark chestnut ; breast, and sides under 
the wings, thickly marked with long pointed spots of dark 
chestnut, centred with black, and running in chains; belly, 
white ; vent, yellow ochre, streaked with brown ; back, 
streaked with black, bay, and pale ochre ; tail, brown, rounded 
at the end, the two middle feathers streaked down their centres 
with black ; legs, flesh coloured ; wing-coverts, black, broadly 
edged with bay, and tipt with yellowish white ; wings, dark 
brown. The female is scarcely distinguishable by its plumage 
from the male. The bill in both, horn coloured. 
