•2ft2 BIRDS OF ILMN0I8. 



After leaving this locality the species was lost sight of until the 

 11th of August following, upon our return to Mount Cannel. At 

 the latter itlnce it was fouiul to be rather rare in certain i)laees 

 just outside the town limits, the localities frequented heing invari- 

 al)ly neglected weedy fields in which scattered dead trees were stand- 

 ing. Unlike most birds, this species sang with the greatest vigor, 

 ami frequently during the sultry midday, when the sky was bright- 

 est and the heat intense — the thermometer ranging from 90" to 103 

 in the shade. The song, while reminding one somewhat of the 

 plaintive chant of the Field Sparrow {Sphella piisilla), was far sweeter 

 and altogether louder ; the modulation, as nearly as can be expressed 

 in words, resembling the syllables thvh'ei're-thut, hit, lut, liit, the first 

 heing a rich silvery trill, pitched in a high musical key, the other 

 syllal)k's also metallic, but abrupt, and lower in tone. 



In July and August, 1875, several specimens of this species were 

 collected by Messrs. E. W. Nelson and F. T. .Tencks in the vicinity 

 of Mount Cannel and on Fox Prairie, the latter in Kichland county, 

 about thirty-five miles to the northward of Mount Carmel. Mr. 

 Nelson thus records his obseiTations (Bull. Essex Inst., Vol. IX., p. 

 38): 



"Rather common. Those obtained were found about the fences or 

 bmsh piles in half-cleared fields. They were shy and quite diflicult 

 to secure from their habit of diving into the nearest shelter when 

 alarmed, or skulking, wren-like, along the fences, dodging from rail 

 to rail. One was observed singing from a fence stake, but seeing 

 the intruder it stopped abruptly and darted into n patch of weeds." 



Genus MELOSPIZA Baird. 



Melonpiza Baird. Birds N. Am. 1858. 478. Type, Friiigilla ini'lotlia WiLS.. F./a.ttlala 

 Ome:.. 



"Gen. Chab. Body stout. BUI conieal. very obsoletely notclied.or smooth; somewhat 

 i-omprossod. Lower mandible not so deep as the upper. Commissure nearly strnlBht. 

 (ionys a little eurved. Feet stout, not strotehinK beyond the tail; tarsus a little longer 

 than the nilildle toe; outer toe a litle louKer than the inner; its elaws not (luite reaching 

 to the base ot the middle one. Hind toe appreeiably luuRer than tin- middle one. Wings 

 quite short and roumied.seareely reaehinc beyond the base of the tail; the tertinls oou- 

 siderably lonner than the seeondaries; the i|uills eonsiderably Kraduated; the fourth 

 Innnest; the llrst not longer than the tertials. and almost the shortest ot tlu' primaries. 

 Tall moderately long, rather longer from eoeey.xthan the wings, and eonsiderably gradu- 

 ate<l; the feathers oval at the tips, and not stifTened. Crown and back similar in eolor. 

 and streaked; beueath thiekly streaked. except in .V. georoinna. Tall Imniaoulate. 

 Usually nest on ground; nests strongly woven ot grasses and Hbrous stems; eggs marked 

 with rusty brown ami purple on a ground of a clay color." 



