24 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



a more natural one might be traced In the Nuthutches, Titmice, 

 and even Woodpeckers. They climb the reeds with remarkable 

 ease, sliding up and down, skipping from one to another, and 

 hanging in every attitude except head downwards ; they are 

 doubtless much aided by the somewhat stiffened tail. On the 

 ground, they are unmistakabl}' sparrow-like, and always pi'oceed 

 b}'^ hopping; the flight does not differ noticeably from that of 

 their several near allies. It is irregular and very quick, and they 

 never remain long on wing. They are rather difficult to procure 

 in large numbers, independently of the miry nature of the places 

 they inhabit ; as they are not often, comparatively, seen at rest, 

 and it is quite a knack, only acquired bj' practice, to shoot at 

 them on wing with any certainty of killing. A collector will 

 do well to take a score of them in a morning's walk, even when 

 they are most abundant. 



Comparing the Fringillidse of this seacoast locality with those 

 of inland places of the same latitude, the distinctive features are 

 seen in the Ammodromi, and in the great abundance of Passer- 

 culus, together with the absence or only casual occurrence of seve- 

 ral species elsewhere abundant. Thus, I never saw a Chipping 

 Sparrow, Yellow-winged Sparrow, Bay-winged Bunting, or Snow- 

 Bird, on the island. 



Pipilo erythroplithalinus. 



Common; summer resident, breeding; and just possibly a few 

 spend the winter here, though I do not think I saw any between 

 November and March. 



Cardinalis virginianus. 



Common ; resident ; breeds (in Maj^ and subsequently). 

 Icterus spurius. 



Moderately common, from the latter part of April, through a 

 portion of September ; breeds. 



Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 



During the migrations only ; in spring, not abundant, mostly 

 in early Ma}', when many are in full dress, and singing volubly ; 

 in fall, very common, beginning to arrive late in August, and 

 continuing througli October. 



Agelaeus phoeniceus. 



Resident ; abundant. They become more numerous during the 



[May 2, 



