C. IT. Merrkun — Birch of Connecticut. SV 



87. Pooecetes gramineUS (Gmelin) Baml. Bay-winged Bunting; Grass 

 Fincli. 



A common summer resident, breeding abundantly, like the last, in 

 open fields. Arrives early in April (April 6, 1875 and same date 

 1877, Hage) ; remaining till about the middle of November. 



88. CoturniculuS passerinUS (Wilson) Bonaparte. Yellow-winged 

 Sparrow. 



A common summer resident in some parts of Connecticut (notably 

 in the Connecticut Valley and along our southern border) ; not found 

 at all in others. Arrives early in May. Frequents dry, sandy, treeless 

 wastes. Ijinsley found it breeding here and at Stratford. " In the 

 vicinity of Hartford, Conn., this bird appears also to be a not uncom- 

 mon summer resident."* Mr. Purdie states that " at Saybrook, 

 Conn., its notes were to be heard in every field. "f I have taken it 

 near Savin Rock (May 29, 1877), and Mr. (4rinnell tells me it is not 

 uncommon about Milford, Conn. It also breeds about Portland, 

 Conn. (Coe and Sage). I am informed by Messrs. Grinnell and Clark 

 that it builds a beautiful covered nest, not unlike that of the Oven 

 Bird {/Sim'n.<! auricapilhis). Mr. Ei-win I. Shores writes me that he 

 has taken it at Enfield, Conn., in the northern part of the State, but 

 in the Connecticut Valley, in July (July (5, 1874). 



89. CoturniculuS Henslowi (Audubon) Bonaparte. Henslow's Sparrow. 

 A rare summer resident. I am very glad to be able to include this 



species on the strength of a specimen just received from my friend 

 Dr. F. W. Hall. He shot it at Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Conn., 

 July 18th, 1873, and it is in the worn breeding plumage. I had 

 searched in vain for it in the many collections of the birds of this 

 State to which I have had access, and had i-eally despaired of finding 

 it at all. Many specimens have been t:iken in Massachusetts and it 

 doubtless occurs regularly in the Coimecticut Valley, if not in other 

 parts of the State. Giraud says that on Long Island '• it is not so 

 rare as is generally supposed. In general, it frequents the low, wet 

 meadows, and })asses most of its time on tlie ground among the tall 

 grass, and is exceedingly difficult to flush, even when pursued with 

 <logs ; it will not fly until nearly within their reach, when it starts 

 from the ground, moves on only a few- yards, and again drops amono- 

 the grass."J 



* Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, vol. i, p. 554. 



f Bull. Nutt. Ornitb. Club, vol. ii, No. 1, p. 17. January, 1877. 



J Giraud's Birds of Long Island, p. 104. 1844. 



