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Range (Breeds from the Magdalen)

Breeds from the Magdalen Islands and Manitoba to Alaska; winters from Virginia southward.

Washington, very abundant T. V., Feb. to Apl. 5; Oct. 25 to Nov.; a few. FIG. 87. -Fox Sparrow. (Natural size.) winter.

Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V., Mch. 4 to Apl. 20; Oct. 14 to Nov. 28. Cambridge, abundant T. V., Mch. 15 to Apl Mch. 15 to Apl. 20; Oct. 20 to Nov. 15.

Nest, of coarse grasses, lined with finer grasses, hair, moss, and feathers, on the ground, and in low trees and bushes. Eggs, four to five, pale bluish, evenly ground , and in low trees and bushes. Eggs, four to five, pale bluish, evenly speckled or heavily blotched with umber or vinaceous-brown, 80 x 63 (see Bendire, Auk, vi, 1889, p. 108).

In the early spring the Fox Sparrow is seen mostly about damp thickets and roadside shrubbery; later it takes more to woodsides, foraging on leaf-strewn slopes where there is little or no undergrowth, often associated with small parties of Juncos. On its return in the autumn it again becomes a common denizen of hedgerows and thickets, and also invades the weedy grainfields, rarely, however, straying far from some thickety cover. Sometimes large numbers congregate among withered growths of tall weeds, whence they emerge with a loud whirring of wings as their retreat is invaded, and hie away in tawny clouds, flock after flock. It is a great scratcher among dead leaves, and can make the wood rubbish fly in a way which, in proportion to its size, a barnyard fowl could scarcely excel. The usual note of the Fox Sparrow is a feeble tseep. A note of excitement is louder and sharper in tone. Its song is not surpassed by that of any of our Sparrows. It is a revelation to hear it at sundown on some vernally softened evening of early springtime; little swarms of gnats hover in the balmy air; from the twilight meadows comes the welcome, half-doubtful piping of the first hylas-no other FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. sound. Then perhaps from some dusky thicket a bird's song! An emotional outburst rising full-toned and clear, and passing all too quickly to a closing cadence, which seems to linger in the silent air. It is the song of the Fox Sparrow with that fuller power and richness of tone which come into it, or seem to, at the sunset hour. It breaks forth as if inspired from pure joy in the awakened season, though with some vague undertone, scarcely of sadness, rather of some lower tone