854 WISCONSIN AGRICULTUEE. 



ing themselves in tlie prairie roads, and escaping from the 

 traveler by flying short distances ahead, or running into the 

 surrounding gra-s. 



They are of about the same size as some of the larger kinds 

 of sparrow, though rather more slender in shape. The predom- 

 inant color is a brownish grey, more strongly tinted with red- 

 dish or vinaceous, about the neck and shoulders ; beneath dull 

 white, tinged with brownish on the breast and sides; throat, 

 and a narrow band at the base of the forehead, white tinted with 

 pale yellow ; there is a broad black band across the middle of 

 the forehead, terminating laterally, above and behind each eye, 

 in a little tuft of feathers, which the bird has power of elevating 

 at will, so as to resemble little horns; a p arrow black stripe 

 runs from the angle of the mouth back under the eye, where it 

 becomes expanded and directed downwards; there is also a 

 laro-e fan shaped, black patch on the breast. The female resem- 

 bles the male, but her markings are more obscure, and the black 

 fronted band and horn like appendages are wanting. 



These birds remain with us nearly the whole year, and maybe 

 seen even in winter, gleaning a scanty subsistance upon the bare 

 portions of the prairie,from which the snow has been blown away. 

 This is said to be one of the few species of land birds whi h 

 are common to the old and new continents, having been de- 

 scribed as inhabiting the northern countries of Europe and Asia, 

 and extending as far south as Germany. 



But the peculiarity of this bird, which has led me to intro- 

 duce its history as appropriate to this work, is the instinct with 

 which it discovers and destroys those grubs which infest corn- 

 fields and which often do so much damage to this and some 



other crops. 



The following observations were made and related to me by 

 an observing and intelligent farmer in my neighborhood : 

 "Whilst going through with the first hoeing of his corn, he ob- 

 served running about amongst the hills, little greyish birds, 

 which from his description, and from the absence of any similar 

 bird with which it could be easily confounded, I have no doubt 

 must have been the present species. 



