Brown on Birds observed at Coosada, Alabama. 9 



taken (April 8), and I am confident the birds were not breeding at the 

 time of my departure. Their haunts were exclusively scattering growths 

 of pine. When upon the ground they lie very close, and often baffle all 

 attempts at capture. 



The song of the male (first heard March 8) is simple, but passionate 

 and very sweet. It consists of a long-drawn initiatory note, followed by a 

 leisurely trill four tones lower in the scale. A few embellishments are 

 occasionally added, and the singer sometimes varies his strain by begin- 

 ning upon a low note and rising to the trill. Shy and suspicious as this 

 bird usually is, the singing male is apparently quite oblivious of danger. 

 More than once I have approached an absorbed singer within five or six 

 feet, without exciting the least alarm. 



58. Junco hyemalis (Z.) Scl. Snow-Bird. — Seen commonly up to 

 about the middle, of April. 



59. Spizella socialis ( Wils.) Bp. Chipping Sparrow. — Found in 

 large flocks throughout my stay. 



60. Spizella pusilla (Wils.) Bp. Field Sparrow. — Abundant 

 during my stay. On April 24 I found a nest containing four fresh eggs. 

 I am not aware that this bird has previously been known to breed south 

 of Virginia. 



61. Zonotrichia albicollis (Gm.) Bp. White-throated Spar- 

 row. — Rather common during my stay. 



62. Passerella iliaca (Merrerri) Sio. Fox-colored Sparrow.— 

 Rather common winter visitant. Stragglers were seen in an old rice-field 

 until the third week of March. 



63. Goniaphea caerulea (£.) Bp. Blue Grosbeak. — A single 

 female taken April 30, in a thicket bordering a brook. 



64. Cyanospiza cyanea (Z.) Bd. Indigo-Bird. — Common in 

 6wampy places, after April 6. 



65. Cardinalis virginianus (Brisson) Bp. Cardinal Redbird. — 

 One of the commonest and most conspicuous winter birds, but seldom seen 

 after mating, — about February 15. At this time the males began their 

 song, but I did not detect the females singing till a fortnight later. 

 Although the birds paired so early in the season, nearly two months 

 passed before they began to work upon their nests. I found the first eggs 

 on April 29. 



66. Pipilo erythrophthalmus (L.) Vieill. Towhee. — Common ; 

 apparently resident. First song March 6. A single specimen of var. 

 alleni was taken in a partial clearing, March 28. 



67. Agelaeus phoeniceus (Z.) Vieill. Red- winged Blackbird. — 

 A common resident ; forming immense flocks in the winter, the sexes 

 usually separated. 



68. Sturnella magna (Z.) Bd. Meadow Lark. — Common during 

 my stay. Not less shy than at the North. They began to sing about the 

 15th of February. 



