NATURAL HISTORY. 413 



resident. Excessively abundcint, especially in winter, when it asso- 

 ciates in large companies in briar patches and along tangled borders 

 of streams. 



132. Melospiza palustris, (Wils. ,) Bd. — Swamp Sparrow. — Chiefly 

 spring and autumn visitant; arrive in spring last week in April; be- 

 come abundant in the fall, second week in October; very secluded 

 and retiring in habits. Gregarious in fall. 



[3Ielospiza lincolni is, in all probability, an inhabitant of the Dis- 

 trict, though we have never succeeded in detecting it.] 



133. Fasserellailiaca, (Merrem,) Sw. — Fox-colored Sparrow. Chiefly 

 spring and autumn visitant, though some spend the winter in shel- 

 tered situations. Abundant from November 1 to 30, and from March 

 1 to 30. Eminently gregarious; inhabits thickets and the densest briar 

 patches and laurel brakes. Sing just before departing; none breed. 



134. Eusplza americaria, (Gm.,) Bon. — Black-throated Bunting. 

 Summer resident. Arrives May 1; leaves towards the end of Sep- 

 tember. Inhabits open fields and meadows. Abundant, especially 

 in the spring. 



135. Guiraca ludoviciana. (Linn.,) Sw. — Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 

 Rare. Summer visitant ; seen only at intervals. Found in high, 

 open woods; generally in small companies. Shy and difficult to pro- 

 cure. 



136. Guiraca cwrulea^ (Linn.,) Sw. — Blue Grosbeak. Summer 

 resident. Rather rare. Breeds in much the same places as does 

 Cardinalis virginianus ; at other times found in more open situations, 

 orchards, sparse woods, &c. Arrives first week in May; departs 

 about middle of September. 



137. Cyanospiza cyanea, (Linn.,) Bd. — Indigo Bird. " Little Blue 

 Bird." Summer resident. Common. Arrives 1st of May; remains 

 until second week in September. About orchards, edges of woods, 

 meadows, &c. 



138. Cardinalis virginianus, Bon. — Cardinal Grosbeak. "Red 

 Bird." Resident all the year. Abundant, but always shy and diffi- 

 cult to procure. Frequents only the thickest briar patches. Moults 

 from middle of July till October. 



139. Pipilo erythrophthalmus, (Linn.,) Vieill. — Towhe Bunting. 

 "Marsh Robin." Chiefly spring and autumn visitant; a few breed. 

 Very abundant from April 25 to May 10, and from first to third week 

 in October. Thickets, laurel brakes, &c. ; partially gregarious. 



140. Doliclionyx oryzivorous, (Linn.,) Sw. — Bob-o'-link. "Reed 

 Bird." Spring and autumn visitant. In spring distributed abun- 

 dantly about orchards and meadows, even at that season generally 

 in flocks, from May 1 to 15; in autumn frequent in immense flocks 

 the tracts of Zizania aquatica, along the river; also cornfields, &c., 

 from August 20 to October. 



141. Molothrus pecoris, (Gm.,) Sw. — Cowpen Bird. "Cow Bird." 

 Summer resident. Not very common. Arrives second week in 

 March; remains till October. 



142. Agelaius phoeniceus, (Linn.,) Vieill. — Red- winged Black Bird. 

 Resident nearly all the year; more abundant in spring and fall, espe- 

 cially the latter. Breed. Commence to flock over the tracts of 



