58 



THE MUSEUM. 



Yellow-bird; Thistle-bird; Gold- 

 finch, 

 Sfiniis tristis, I,. 

 A very abundant species. Breeds 

 in both peninsulas. Assumes somber 

 plumage in winter. This bird in com- 

 mon with the last has a note, szucci, 

 but the notes can be distinguished by 

 an expert ear. The thistle-bird lays 

 five or six blue-tinged eggs in June, 

 July and August in a most artistic 

 nest, placed generally from eight to 

 fifteen feet up. 



Snow Bunting; Snow-flake, 

 Plcctropliciiax nivalis. 

 A very abundant but irregular vis- 

 itor from the far north. Sometimes 

 appears as early as November and 

 frequently remains well into April, but 

 more commonly observed in December 

 and January. Often appears in mighty 

 flocks and the birds fly so closeily, that 

 a well directed shot will sometimes 

 drop a score or more. A very pleas- 

 ing species and also very beautiful and 

 I know of no bird which makes a bet- 

 ter appearance as an ornament when 

 well mounted. The snowflake is never 

 to be relied upon, and generally makes 

 its appearance when least expected. 



Lapland Longspuk, 

 Calcarins lappoiiicus, Linn. 

 Another northern species. I have 

 sometimes thought that this bird was 

 a regular migrant, owing to records of 

 'its capture in the fall and again as 

 late as April 2i. However, if it is so, 

 it must select various routes for migra- 

 tion, as it is not regularly captured 

 anywhere in southern Michigan. It 

 does not always pass us, however, in 

 its exodus from the north, as it is oc- 

 casionally taken here in winter. 



Smith's Longspur; Painted Long- 

 spur, 

 Calcarius pictiis. 

 This species is quite common on the 

 southern shore of Lake Michigan ac- 

 cording to Butler's "Birds of Indiana," 

 and it is quite reasonable to suppose 

 that it may be yet found in Michigan. 

 A recent list in our state, with the 

 characteristic tendency adopted by 

 amateur compilers of adding possibili- 

 ties, embraces this species, though it 

 has not yet been recorded within our 

 boundaries. 



Bay-winged Bunting; Grass Finch; 

 Vesper Sparrow. 



Pooccctcs gj'aviincits, Gmel. 

 Appears from the middle to the last 

 of March and remains till late October 

 or later. Found in the upper penin- 

 sula. Breeds abundantly, laying four 

 eggs in a shiftless nest, always on the 

 ground. A sweet singer and well 

 known but not appreciated because it 

 is ubiquitous from March to October. 



Yellow-winged Sparrow, 

 Ainiiiodrauins savannai'tan passerinuSy 

 Wils. 

 Not rare in certain prairie sections; 

 in fact we may call it common in some 

 quarters. However, it was not com- 

 mon in Michigan twenty years ago. 

 This is one of those species, and we 

 have many of thtm, which has in- 

 creased in number and enlarged its- 

 terriiory within the last few years. I 

 feel safe in saying that this bird is not 

 to be found commonly in the Upper 

 Peninsula, but it will reach that quar- 

 ter after a time, and when suitable 

 grounds have been cleared. The song 

 of the Yellow-wing is faint and some- 

 what resembles the notes of an insect- 



