136 MELOSPIZA LINCOLXI, LINCOLN'S SPARROW. 



Bost. Soc. i, 1869, 505 (Illinois).— Sumich., Mem. Boat. Soc. i, 1869, 552 (Vera 

 Cruz).— Dall & Bann., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 285.— Mayn., Nat. Guide, 1870, 

 120 (Massachusetts, very rare). — Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 177 (Easteru 

 Kansas; Colorado Mountains, from 8,000 feet to above timber-line; Ogden, 

 Utah).— Stev., U. S. Geol. Surv. Ter. 1870, 465 (Wyoming).- Coop.. B. Cal. 1, 

 1870, 216.— Hold., Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 2U0 (Black Hills).— Thippe, ibid. 238 (Iowa, 

 common).— CouES, Key, 1872, 138.— Snow, B. Kans. 1873, 7.— B. B. &, R., N. A. B. 

 ii, 1874, 31, pi. 27, f. 13. 



Helospiza Uncolni, Bd. — Allen, Ph Ess. Inst, iv, 1864, 72 (Massachusetts). 



Passerculus zonarius, Bp. — SCL., Pr. Zool. Soc. 1856, 305. 



Hob. — Whole of North America. Mexico. Guatemala. 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 4811, Iowa Poiut ; 4898, Bald Island; 4809, Platte 

 River ; 4814, Big Sioux River; 4816, Blackfoot country ; 4810, 4812-13, 4815, Vermilion 

 River. 



Later Exjjeditions.— 59890-93, Middle Park, Colorado; 61052-57, Henry's Fork and 

 Green River, Wyoming. 



Not obtained by Ca^itain Raynolds' Expedition. 



Since described by Audubon from "Labrador to New York" this bird 

 has occurred at various points, until its range has been determined to 

 include the whole continent. It does not, however, appear to be eqnally 

 distributed. In the Atlantic States it is apparently rare ; in the course 

 of all my collecting I never saw it, and the above quotations, including 

 nearly all that exist, are unanimous in attesting its scarcity. In the 

 West, however, the case is different. In Iowa, according to Mr. Trippe, 

 as above quoted, it is common in spring and fall; and from Colorado, 

 the same observer writes as follows : "Lincoln's Finch is abundant, and 

 migratory; it breeds from about 9,500 or 10,000 feet up to timber-line. 

 It arrives at Idaho Springs early in May, and soon becomes very com- 

 mon, haunting the thickets and brush-heaps by the brooks, and behav- 

 ing very much like the Song Sparrow. During the breeding season it 

 is most abundant among the bushes near and above timber-line, nesting 

 as high as it can find the shelter of the willows and junipers. Reap- 

 pearing in the valleys in October, it lingers by the streams for a few 

 weeks, and then disappears." Mr. Allen also informs me tbat it is "an 

 abundant summer resident of the mountains of Colorado, from about 

 8,000 feet to above the limit of trees. It is found chiefly in the vicinity 

 of wooded streams and in moist or swampy thickets, being essentially a 

 woodland bird. Its song is rather feeble, but pleasant and varied, and 

 generally uttered for a considerable period from some elevated point of 

 the thicket. It is one of the few species that are as abundant at the 

 timber-line as at lower points. I also met with it sparingly in Eastern 

 Kansas in May, and found it abundant in the vicinity of Ogden, Utah, 

 in September." Dr. Hayden found it "abundant" throughout the west- 

 ern territory. Mr. Ridgway informs us of its great numbers in winter 

 in Soutberu Illinois. Finally, my own observations attest how numer- 

 ous it is in Dakota during the migrations. Arriving from the North in 

 September, it frequents the shrubbery along the streams for a month or 

 more before it passes on South. Under these circumstances I have 

 found it in company with Ridgway's and Harris's Finches. It is one of 

 the more timid and retiring of our Sparrows, at least at this season. 

 When I startled it from its ramblings in the low herbage outside the 

 shrubbery, it would instantly seek shelter in the thickest cover, flying 

 low, direct, and with a jerky flight like that of the Song and Swamp 

 Si)arrows ; nor would it venture out again for a long while. It does not 

 habitually, at this season, perch on the tops or outer twigs of bushes, 

 except momentarily, seeming to feel inseoure unless hidden from view ; 

 it rarely lifts itself more than a few feet from the ground. Altogether, 

 its habits seem to be nearest those of the Swamp Sparrow. I have 



