564 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



alight in flocks. Their food coiLsists of thu seeds of grass ami other small 

 plants, which they collect on the ground. 



A single specimen of this bird was shot in Massachusetts in 1S45, by Mr. 

 Samuel Jillson. It was taken in Gloucester, on the coast, where its appear- 

 ance was, of course, purely accidental. 



We are indebted to the careful observations of Mr. Ridgway for the prin- 

 cipal portion of our knowledge of the manners and mode of life of this 

 species, which he lias recently ascertained to be an abundant summer resi- 

 dent in Southern Illinois. It is jn-oliably equally aliundant throughout the 

 State, and is found as far east as Ohio, where it becomes rare. 



The Pi-airie Lark- Finch was found by that accui-ate observer very abundant 

 at Sacramento, Cal., where it frequented alike the oak groves, the cottonwood 

 and willow copses, and the weedy fields and meadows. At Sacramento it was 

 eminently arboreal, quite in contrast with its habits as observed in Illinois. It 

 was also met with in the interior, wherever the locality was suited to it. Near 

 Salt Lake City it is one of thu most numerous of the birds inhabiting the 

 artemisia grounds, in the outskirts of the town, in company with Foospiza 

 bilineata and Spizella breweri. It is called by the Utah boys the Snake- Bird, 

 from tlie su]iposed resemblance of its striped head to tJiat of a snake. At 

 Sacramento it is greatly prized as a cage-bird, and young liirds readily sell 

 there for lour dollars a pair. He states that the delightful song of this bird 

 has no parallel among the Nortli American FrmfjiUidcc, and claims that in 

 this respect it is pre-eminently superior to that of all the other members of 

 this family. As it perches upon the summit of a small tree, on tlie telegraph 

 wire, or upon a fence, its notes may he iieard throughout the day, in the 

 morning before those of any others, and late in the evening, when all except 

 for this irrepre.ssible songster is silence. 



The song of tlris species is described as composed of regularly divided 

 parts, almost perfect in compass, in vigor and continuity unsurj)assed, if not 

 unequalled, by any other North American species. It begins witii a series 

 of chants, the style reminding one somewhat of tiie Cyanospizu ci/anea, but 

 each syllable loud, rich, and clear, and uttered witli a peculiar emotional trill, 

 th(! whole seennngly delivered in a hurried manner, in one continuous gush 

 of sprightly silvery notes, each acconqianicd liy a metallic tremolo. As if 

 exhausted, the singer falters, and the notes become scarcely audible, then 

 suddenly reviving, as if in gi-eat joy, the song is resumed in all its vivacity, 

 until the bird at last really appeai-s to be overcome by its efforts. 



Dr. Cones met with this s])ecies in Arizona in the winter. He writes me 

 as follows : " The most eastern point where I observed this species was at 

 St. Louis, Mo. I saw a good many in the suburbs of that city in May, 1865. 

 It is one of the most aliundant Sparrows aliout Fort Whipple, particularly 

 during the migrations ; the majority pass northward in April and JMay, but 

 many breed in the vicinity, and some pass the winter in sheltered situations. 

 It is generally seen in companies, frequenting the skirts of woods, the under- 



