OF NEW ENGLAND. 193 



last week of May. Four or five eggs are then laid, averaging 

 •78X'60 of an inch, and normally are white, with a wreath of 

 blended reddish-brown and obscure lilac spots about the greater 

 end, and a few scattered spots of the former color elsewhere. 

 In some cases the markings cover the greater end, so that there 

 is no distinct ring. 



(c). My own observations have shown me that the Yellow- 

 winged Sparrows are rare, at least in some parts of Eastern 

 Massachusetts, though common in others, during their com- 

 paratively brief residence here through May and the summer- 

 months. Mr. Maynard, however, considers them as " not un- 

 common" throughout this district, being "very numerous on 

 Nantucket Island ;" but Mr. Allen is, I think, right in believ- 

 ing them to be more abundant in the western than in the other 

 portions of the State, as, for instance, near Springfield. To 

 the northward of Massachusetts they perhaps do not occur. 

 They frequent almost exclusivel}^ dry fields, particularly such 

 as are sand}'^ or do not contain a luxuriant vegetation, and 

 feed upon seeds and insects. They are rather shy, and often 

 nimbly escape a near approach. They run with ease, and 

 never leave the ground, except to take a short, low flight, or 

 to perch upon the top of some weed, or on some fence. 

 Though often more or less collective, they are never strictly 

 gregarious. 



(d). Their ordinary notes are a chirr, much like the note of 

 some insect, and an occasional chick. Their song is so pecul- 

 iar as to be quite characteristic, and may be represented by 

 the syllables ^^ chick', chick-a-see," with the chief accent on the 

 last and highest of these. Wilson speaks of their "short, 

 weak, interrupted chirrup." 



(B) HENsLOwr. Henslow's Bunting. Hensloi&s Sparroio. 



(A summer-resident in Massachusetts of rarity.) 



(a). Five inches long (or less). JAlie, passerimis (A, a) but 

 "more yellowish above, and with sharp maxillary, pectoral 

 and lateral black streaks below." (Coues.) 



(&). The nest, which is somewhat coarse, is built upon the 

 14 



