BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 333 



central line, these marks rather aggregated on the middle 

 of the breast so as to form a spot; no distinct white on tail or 

 wings. 



Length, 6.50; wing, 2.60; tail, 3. 



Habitat, eastern United States to Plains. 



MELOSPIZA LINCOLNI (Audubon). (583.) 

 LINCOLN'S SPARROW. 



Of the habits of this species, quite common in both migra- 

 tions, I know very little, except that I cannot separate it 

 from the Swamp Sparrows until 1 have it in my hand. 



Mr. R. S. Williams of Minneapolis, was the first to bring 

 this locally new species "to bag" in the State so far as I am 

 aware. This he did on the 9th of May 1876. Mr. Robert 

 McMullen obtained another on the 12th of the same month. 

 Since then few collectors have failed to appropriate one or 

 more of their skins, in the interest of science, or the fun of 

 shooting. From reports sent me annually from "beyond the 

 Big Woods," the great deciduous belt of timber traversing a 

 good portion of the State from north-east to south-west, I am 

 assured of its abundance in the period of both migrations in 

 which it shares the general characteristics of the Swamp Spar • 

 rows. 



I have been less favored with observations of this species in 

 the southern sections, but have no doubt that it is equally 

 represented. Dr. Coues says its range embraces the whole 

 continent. Somewhat unequally distributed: it is rare in the 

 east; but abundant in Colorado; common in Iowa; numerous in 

 Illnois; but only in migration except in the mountains near 

 Idaho spring where "it breeds about 9,500 or 10,000 feet up to 

 timber line." In Birds of the North-west he again quotes from 

 Mr. Allen who states it is ' 'an abundant summer resident of the 

 mountains of Colorado, from about 8,000 feet to above the 

 limits of trees. It is found chiefly in the vicinity of wooded 

 streams, and in moist or swampy thickets, being essentially 

 a woodland bird. Its song is rather feeble, but pleasant and 

 varied, and generally uttered for a considerable period from 

 some elevated point of the thicket. It is one of the few 

 species that are as abundant at the timber line as at the lower 

 points. I also met with it sparingly in May in eastern Kansas, 

 and found it abundant in the vicinity of Ogden, Utah, in Sep- 

 tember." 



