NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 223 



wooded districts. Its flight is performed in an irregular desultory manner, 

 rising and falling in cycloidal curves, and is seldom protracted to any great 

 distance. While passing over head it utters continually a peculiar rattling 

 chirp impossible to describe, yet once heard never to be mistaken ; and while 

 seated on a twig, or engaged in searching for food, it has all the plaintive and 

 varied modulations for which the Chrysomitris tristis is so noted, and from 

 which the latter derives its specific name. I never heard any thing that could 

 with any propriety be called a song. The food of this species consists entirely 

 of the seeds of various grasses ; and when shot while feeding, it will be found 

 to have the throat crammed with them. In this respect, as well as in voice, 

 flight and general manners, I could not but be struck with the similarity which 

 exists between this bird and the common Goldfinch. Audubon, in his account 

 of the A. linaria, is at some pains to refute the opinion that there exists be- 

 tween that bird and the Chrysomitris, the great similarity in general habits that 

 has been ascribed to it. Receiving the testimony of that unrivalled student 

 of nature, the close resemblance which I am able to state does exist between 

 the present bird and the Goldfinch, would furnish, if necessary, additional 

 proof of the specific distinction of A. fuscescens and linaria ; since the habits 

 and manners of two birds, however closely allied, will always be found to differ 

 in some particulars.* 



Passerculus savanna (Wils.), Bon. Savannah Sparrow. 



Emberiza savanna, Aud. Birds Arner. iii. 68 ; pi. 160. 

 Passerculus savanna, Baird, Gen. Rep. 442. 



The partiality of this species for low moist meadows and watery savannahs, 

 and the vicinity of the sea-shore, where it frequently associates with the Am- 

 modromus caudacutus, is well known as its most characteristic habit. In 

 Labrador, where it is abundant during the summer months, I never noticed 

 it in any other situation. It was frequently to be seen even on the beds of 

 dried "Eel-grass," (Zostera,) along the rocky shore, searching for food in com- 

 pany with the Tit-larks, and Bonaparte's Sandpipers, Actodromas Bonapartei. 

 It is a shy and timid species, when approached darting at once into the thick- 

 est and rankest grass. It is then rather difficult to procure ; for it rises only 

 when almost trodden on, flies a few yards in a rapid zigzag manner, and then 

 darting down again, runs rapidly to a considerable distance. It is a very ac- 

 tive species, almost continually in motion, running nimbly through the tall 

 grasses like a mouse. I heard no notes except the usual sparrow-like chirp, 

 though in the spring it has considerable vocal powers as I have ascertained on 

 other occasions.! The young differ greatly from the adult, the plumage being 

 every where strongly tinged with ferrugineous, most conspicuous on the wing 

 coverts and tertials ; the under parts are thickly streaked with dusky. On 

 the 1st of September, when I left the country, the species was still numerous, 

 apparently as much so as ever. 



While off the coast of Nova Scotia, the land appearing as an indistinct line 

 on the In rizon, a Savannah Sparrow alighted on the vessel in so exhausted a 

 state, as to suffer itself to be taken in hand. After resting a short time, how- 

 ever, it took flight and disappeared in the direction of the land, which it no 

 doubt reached in safety. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forst. ) Sw. White-crowned Sparrow. "Chip-bird." 



Fringilla leucophrys, Aud. Birds Amer. iii. 157; pi. 192. 

 Zonotrichia leucophrys, Baird, Gen. Rep. 458. 



This large and handsome Finch breeds in great numbers along the entire 



* No individuals of A. linaria were seen during my stay in Labrador. 

 + At Washington, D. C, in the month of April. 



1861.] 



