Washington, common P.R., abundant T.V., Mch. and Oct. Ossining, common P.R. Cambridge, very abundant S.R., Mch. 10-Nov. 1; locally common W.V. N. Ohio, P.R., abundant in summer, common in winter; Glen Ellyn, common S.R. Feb. 12-Nov. 2. SE. Minn., common S.R., Mch. 16-Nov. 11.
If the so-called 'English' Sparrow is the European Sparrow, the Song Sparrow is the American Sparrow. He is found in every State and from the Valley of Mexico to Alaska. He is abundant, musical, and familiar and probably better known than any other member of his family native to this country. His is one of the first birds' songs to be heard in the spring, and the last in the fall, and when in midsummer, the adults, while molting, are silent, the rambling, formless song of the young may be heard.
Usually the Song Sparrow is found near water and not far from bushes into which he flies when alarmed. Then we hear his characteristic call-note, an impatient chimp, chimp, unlike that of any other of our Sparrows. The nest is built on the ground and the 4-5 bluish white brown-marked eggs are laid late in April.
LINCOLN'S SPARROW
Melospiza lincolni lincolni. [Case 7], Fig. 15
A broad band of buff across the streaked breast.
Range. Chiefly western United States; in the East, nests from northern New York and northern Minnesota into Canada; winters from Mississippi to Central America; rare east of the Alleghanies.
Washington, rare T.V., May 8-21; Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Ossining, rare T.V., Sept. 29-Oct. 16. Cambridge, not uncommon T.V., May 15-May 25; Sept. 14-Oct. 10. N. Ohio, tolerably common T.V., Apl. 25-May 25. Glen Ellyn, not common T.V., fall records only, Sept. 11-Oct. 9. SE. Minn., common T.V., Apl. 17-; Sept. 10-Oct. 30.
We know the species only as a rare, retiring migrant, frequenting hedgerows, and undergrowth. I have never heard its song while migrating.
SWAMP SPARROW
Melospiza georgiana. [Case 4], Fig. 44; [Case 5], Fig. 22
Note the bright chestnut cap, grayish, unstreaked breast, and reddish brown rump of the summer plumage; in winter, the crown is darker and streaked with black. L. 5¼.