BAY-WINGED BUNTING. 91 



of the neck, and upper parts of the same, very pale ash ; back streaked 

 laterally with dark rusty brown and pale bluish white ; wings dusky, 

 edged broadly with brown ; the greater and lesser coverts tipped broadly 

 with white, forming two handsome bands across the wing ; tertials black, 

 edged with brown and white ; rump and tail coverts drab, tipped with 

 a lighter tint ; tail long, rounded, dusky, and edged broadly with drab ; 

 belly white ; vent pale yellow ochre ; legs and feet reddish brown ; eye 

 reddish hazel, lower eyelid white. 



The female may easily be distinguished from the male, by the white 

 on the head being less pure, the black also less in extent, and the ash 

 on the breast darker ; she is also smaller in size. 



There is a considerable resemblance between this species and the White- 

 throated Sparrow, yet they rarely associate together ; the latter remain- 

 ing in the lower parts of Pennsylvania in great numbers, until the 

 beginning of May, when they retire to the north and to the high inland 

 regions to breed ; the former inhabiting much more northern countries ; 

 and though said to be common in Canada, rarely visiting this part of 

 the United States. 



Species VIII. EMBERIZA GR AMINE A. 



BAY-WINGED BUNTING. 



[Plate XXXI. Fig. 5.] 

 Grass Finch, Ard. Zool. No. 253. — Lath, hi., 273.— Turton, Syst. 1, p. 565. 



The manners of this bird bear great affinity to those of the common 

 Bunting of Britain. It delights in frequenting grass and clover fields, 

 perches on the tops of the fences, singing from the middle of April to 

 the beginning of July, with a clear and pleasant note, in which particu- 

 lar it far excels its European relation. It is partially a bird of passage 

 here, some leaving us and others remaining with us during the winter. 

 In the month of March I observed them numerous in the lower parts of 

 Georgia, where, according to Mr. Abbot, they are only winter visitants. 

 They frequent the middle of fields more than hedges or thickets ; run 

 along the ground like a Lark, which they also resemble in the great 

 breadth of their wings ; they are timid birds ; and rarely approach the 

 farm house. 



Their nest is built on the ground, in a grass or clover field, and formed 

 of old withered leaves and dry grass ; and lined with hair. The female 

 lays four or five eggs of a grayish white. On the first week in May I 



