44 



JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Jed. F. Fanning has given me 

 data of a specimen which he took on 

 December 29, 1890 in Lubec, Me. "It 

 was with a flock of Snowflakes in an 

 open snow-covered field a mile south- 

 westerly of Lubec Village." This 

 specimen is in the collection of Prof. 

 J. Y. Stanton. 



While at Pine Point, Scarborough, 

 Me., late in October 1901, a passage 

 of Horned Larks and Pipits of con- 

 siderable magnitude was observed to 

 be in progress. Occasionally birds 

 were observed with them which 

 seemed to differ from either species, 

 but were not taken. However on 

 October 31, while on the end of the 

 sandy point five birds came from 

 across the bay and alighted a short 

 distance away. Their gray appear- 

 ance, and size slightly smaller than 

 that of the Horned Larks, which they 

 resembled, attracted my attention, 

 and investigation proved them all to 

 be of the present species. 



Calcariiis orna/us. (Towns.). Chest- 

 nut-colored Langspur. 



This species has once been known 

 to straggle to Maine. This specimen 

 was taken August 13, 1886 on the Lit- 

 tle River marsh by Pine Point in 

 Scarborough, by Dr. Joseph L. Good- 

 ale. (Goodale, Auk IV, p. 77). Under 

 date of Feb. 12, 1904, Dr. Goodale as- 

 sures me that the specimen is still in 

 his collection. 



Poa'cetes grainhiens. (Gmel). Vesper 

 Sparrow. Bay -winged Bunting. Grass 

 Finch. "Ground Sparrow." This 

 species is of general distribution 

 throughout the state. However it 

 is rather uncommon on much of the 

 coast and nearer islands, and absent 

 from the outer islands. On the rocky 

 foot hills of York County I have 

 found it to be the characteristic finch, 

 abounding in pastures where it places 

 its nest, sheltered by a bush, weed, or 

 stone. 



On the more level and grassy fields 

 of certain parts of Cumberland Coun- 

 ty, and indeed in similar localities in 

 York County it is less abundant, giv- 

 ing place to Savanna Sparrows and 

 Bobolinks. 



In late summer it becomes a char- 

 acteristic feature of the roadside in 

 much of the state's area. 



At least two broods are raised in a 

 season. 



While the general form of its song 

 is similar to that of our Song Spar- 



row, the points of difference are 

 strongly marked, that of the present 

 species having a pathetic quality 

 which enhances its sweetness to the 

 degree that it has been called "One 

 of the finest songsters among the 

 Sparrows," (New Eng. Bd. Life, I, p. 

 241.). In addition to this song some 

 individuals at least, have a low ramb- 

 ling warble, quite ventriloqual in 

 effect, strikingly different from the 

 well known song when first heard, 

 but the points of likeness become ap- 

 parent as one listens to the bird. 



Passer cuius princeps Maynard. Ips- 

 wich Sparrow. 



A migrant coastwise, probably less 

 common than twenty-four years ago, 

 when it was recorded by Mr. Nathan 

 Clifford Brown as "Common in au- 

 tumn" in the vicinity of Portland. 

 (Proc. Port. Soc. N. H. II, p. 13). 



This interesting bird, the true home 

 of which remained so long unknown, 

 seems to have been added to the 

 fauna of Maine in 1875, by the capture 

 of a specimen at Cape Elizabeth 

 March 20* by Mr. Willey. The fact 

 was made known to ornithologists 

 the same year by Mr. Nathan Clifford 

 Brown, whose observations upon it 

 are probably the most extensive of 

 any ornithologist of Maine. (Brown, 

 Rod& Gun VI, p. 81, May 8, 1875.). 

 Mr. Brown in 1882 indicated that it 

 was not, (from Saco River to Scar- 

 borough) uncommon as a fall migrant 

 between October 13 and November 6. 

 (Bull Nutt. Orn. Club VII, p 190.). 



In 1883 Mr. Everett Smith in his 

 Birds of Maine recorded a specimen 

 taken at Back Bay, Portland, March 

 1882 by Mr. Andrew Nelson, Jr. 

 (Forest & Stream XIX, p. 466, Jan. 11, 

 1883.). He further stated, "I have 

 seen this Sparrow in Maine in De- 

 cember when there were several 

 inches of snow on the ground and 

 long after all the Savanna Sparrows 

 had gone South." (1. c.) 



In 1886, Mr. Joseph L. Goodale 

 proved its occurrence in Maine in the 



*"This was a'si mentioned by Mr. William Brews- 

 ter Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club I, p 52, where the date is 

 given as March i? As this is repeated by Vir. 

 Stearns in the New England Bird Life 1, p. 236, it 

 seems proper to take note of the cise, which did not 

 attract my attention in season to correspond with the 

 gentlemen who are parties to the records Mr. 

 Brown's date is presumed to be the correct one as he 

 l.ilcr gave his earliest spring record, March ao. Proc. 

 Port. Soc. N. H. II, p. 13 Bull. Nutt. Orn. CI. VII, 

 p 190." 



