SONG OF SOLOMON. See CANTICLES.
a well-known spar row (Melospiza fasciata), found in some one or other of its numerous races in all parts of North America except in the extreme north and south on the eastern side. The song-sparrow may be readily recognized by its thickly streaked plumage, brown above, ashy below, with the brown, black-centred streaks co alescing on the breast into a conspicuous spot. In most parts of the East song-sparrows re main throughout the year, but there 'is never theless a distinct north and south movement, the winter birds of any given locality being visitors from the North. In New England and most parts of the Middle States they are more plentiful in summer than in winter. During the latter season they associate more or less with flocks of fox-sparrows, white-throated sparrows and other species which frequent thickets along water-courses, but are much less gregarious than they. Their food consists of seeds of various kinds and in summer and autumn of insects and berries. They are chiefly birds of the ground and bushes and are never seen in the high tree-tops. Few birds surpass the song-sparrow in the real melody of their simple song, and few birds require so little of sun shine to start the joyous outburst even in mid winter. They sing in every month of the year,
but most persistently and sweetly during the breeding season. The nest, which is built on the ground or in a low bush or evergreen, is a bulky structure of grass, leaves, etc., lined with fine grasses or horse-hair, receives four to five greenish white eggs varied endlessly in the character of the spots and blotches of browns and lavender. Usually two or three broods are raised each season. Other eastern species of the same genus are the. Lincoln's sparrow (M. lincolnii) and the swamp-sparrow (M. georgiana), while, besides the numerous varie ties of the song-sparrow in the West and South west, two distinct species (M. insignis and M. cinerea) occur in Alaska.
or MAVIS. In the United States the wood thrush is most con spicuous for its song. The thrush of Great Britain is also called song-thrush, while in Scotland it is known as Song thrushes are common throughout the temperate zone in Europe, resembling the American robin in their habits. The eggs are blue, spotted with brown. The male is dark brown, with golden brown tints in its wings. The throat is buff and the underparts yellowish white, flecked with brown.