A Ut THE singing of our birds. 
BY EUGENE P. BICKNELE. 
. ( Continued from Vol. I, p. jj2.) 
Spizella monticola. Tree Sparrow. 
This hardy Sparrow, though provided through our winters 
with an unfailing supply of seeds from the catkins of swamp alders 
and the dried flower-clusters of golden-rods and other withered 
weeds which reach above the snow,* seems nevertheless 
cany t o become impatient for spring. It is always ready 
with song for the first mild, sunshiny days after the middle of 
ebruary, and I have often heard its initial notes on or about the 
22d of the month. Sometimes, however, it does not begin to 
Sln f untl1 March , and in 1877, when this month was decidedly 
inclement, the first day of song was March 21. My latest record 
lor song is April 13, but in some seasons it is not heard later 
than the end of March. 
In the fall, singing is unusual, but I have several times heard 
songs in November, once so late as the 17th. 
Isolated dates for singing are January ri, and December 12, 
1880; on the latter occasion the song was feeble and imperfect, 
but on the former it was complete, and several times repeated. 
Besides its customary chip , the Tree Sparrow has a low 
double note, which is uttered mainly while the birds are feeding. 
his simple and slightly musical sound from many birds busily 
feeding together produces a low conversational' chirping, so 
pleasantly modulated as to seem like an unconscious expression 
of contented companionship. 
Auk, 2, April, 1885. p. /yy 
* The number of wild plants and trees that keep their seed through the winter is 
greater than the casual observer would be likely to believe. During a recent winter 
I gave some attention to this subject, noting down all the trees and plants found with 
seed. No systematic or extended search was made, yet a few midwinter walks gave 
me a list of about one hundred and fifty names. Some of these were of scarce plants , 
or those the fruit of which was hardly adapted for a bird’s food, but many were of 
common and widely-spread species, which were well suited to form winter staples for 
our granivorous birds. 
