2g2 SIXGING BIRDS — OSCIXES. 



I think it very doubtful whether tliese specimens (wliich measure larger 

 than the dimensions given by Baird, though otherwise agreeing) are any- 

 thing more than a southern form of P. Sandwicliensis, thougli collected near 

 Sau Diego. Wliether Bonaparte's and Baird's birds are different, I cannot 

 determine. Baird considers it almost identical with P. Savanna of the East, 

 and says that P. Sandwichcasis differs from that species only in larger size. 



Spring specimens have the superciliary stripe more decidedly yellow, so 

 that there only remains a more slender bill to distinguish this from P. Savan- 

 na, and tlie larger size (cliaracteristic of Northern specimens generally), with 

 darker hues, for P. Sandwichensis. 



At the Columbia River I noticed the arrival (jf this species from the 

 south in March, and that they resided there until late in October. In tlus 

 State they seem chiefly winter residents, abounding on the dry interior 

 plains as far south as San Diego, where they remain until April in large 

 flocks. I liave not seen them during the summer months, though they very 

 probably breed in some of the higher prairies of this State, yet I saw none 

 about the summits of the Sierra Nevada in September. They prefer the 

 dry rolling plains to marslies, altliough occasionally found in tlie latter. 

 Dr. Heennanii's note on tliis species corresponds to the habits of P. anfhlaus, 

 and was ]irobably intended for that species, of which he collected a speci- 

 men, while lie got none of this, though referring to it as " P. Savanna." (See 

 lists of specimens in Baird's Eep. IX. 445, 446.) 



The song of this bird is faint and lisping, delivered from the top of a tall 

 weed, during spring. Its nest is unknown, but P. savanna builds in the 

 grass, and lays pale greenisli eggs, slightly spotted and splashed with pale 

 umber. (Nuttall.) 



The natviralist of the Bussian Telegraph Expedition found tlie P. Sand- 

 wiclinisis quite common at Sitka and Kodiak, although on the Yukon the 

 representative of the gemxs seemed to be a species most like the present, 

 or even the genuine P. Savanna. 



