546 



XORTH AilERICAN BIRDS. 



fined ; tlie general appearance, however, is not different from the adidt. Some- 

 times there is a decided einnanion wash beneath. Western specimens (var. 

 confinis) apjiear to be paler, with longer wings, and longer and more slender 

 bills, in this respect resembling other Finches {Mclospizu, Passcrculus, etc.). 



All specimens from west of the Rocky Mountains are to be referred to 

 var. confinis. 



Habits. The Bay-winged or Grass Finch is a very abundant species 



wherever found, and has a very ex- 

 tended distribution. Accepting as 

 one species the slightly variant 

 races above indicated, tins bird 

 extends from Florida and Mexico, 

 on the south, to the 57th parallel 

 of latitude, and from the ea.stern to 

 the western shores. It was found by 

 Itichardson frequenting the ])lains 

 of the Saskatchewan, where it ar- 

 rives early in May and leaves in 

 Septenil)cr, and where it nests 

 abundantly in the short withered grass of that sterile region. Eichardson 

 did not trace it farther north than the 57th parallel, and it was not obtained 

 on the Yukon or Anderson liivers Ijy Mr. MacFarlane or Mr. Lockhart. It 

 breeds from Northern Virginia nortli. 



In the Middle States it is partially resident, a portion remaining all tlie 

 winter. South of Washington it is chiefly migratory, only found, in any 

 numbers, from Novemloer to Marcli, and proliably but few remaining to breed. 

 Audubon states that he never saw any of this species in any portion of Lou- 

 isiana, Missouri, Kentucky, or Ohio. j\Ir. Dresser, on the other hand, found 

 tliera common about San Antonio in August and September, and also in May 

 and June, and had no doubt that some remain to breed. 



It is very abundant throughout New England, arriving in some seasons as 

 early as March 11, and remaining until quite late in the fall, often through 

 Noveudjer. It is found chiefly in dry open fields and pastures, where it 

 nests, with no pains at concealment, on the ground, in depressions made by 

 its own work. It is an unsuspicious and fearless species, neither seeking 

 nor avoiding the compauionshijJ of man. It does not usually build near 

 houses, yet is not uufrequently known to do so. It may be often found 

 perched on fences along the roadside, chanting its simple and pleasing lay, 

 and quite as frequently in the road feeding and dusting itself. The latter 

 operation it is very fond of practising, and almost any day in the summer 

 these birds may be found in such situations. 



West of the Great I'lains is found a marked variety of this species, differ- 

 ing in many respects from the eastern. The western species or race of this 

 Finch, Mr. Ridgway states, is an abundant summer bird in all the elevated 



