ViCKERS — Notes on the Henslow's Sparrows. ir>l 



When the grass was finally cut they took to the adjoining 

 wheat stubbk where the stocking was growing rankly, and 

 where, perched on the shocks they afforded excellent opportu- 

 nities for observation. But with the removal of the wheat they 

 disappeared or dispersed over surrounding fields and pastures. 



The strain, or call, is very different in character, and not to 

 be confused with that of the Grasshopper or Yellow-winged 

 Sparrow — less of a song than an outcry o-f complaint or alarm. 



To Mr. George L. Fordyce, of Youngstown, belongs the 

 hoiior of first recording the Henslow Sparrow for Mahoning 

 County, in Boardman Township, April 30 and May 1, 1907, 

 but it failed to return to his territory this year. It is of in- 

 terest to note in passing that this irregularly distributed spar- 

 row should have been observed at two points so far apart in 

 one county, there being the space of about two townships be- 

 tween our two stations for it. How interesting it would be if 

 ornithologists were sO' thick over the land that the circles of 

 their peripatetics intersected : then we would be able tO' know 

 whether the movement of a bird like the Henslow Sparrow 

 took the form of a wave or only occurred in streaks. The spring 

 of 1908 I recorded its first reappearance on April 23, saw it 

 again the 21:th, and called it "common" the 26th, when I saw it 

 at several widely Sieparated points in Ellsworth Township. Sing- 

 ularly enough it was ni( re abundant in a field almost a mile 

 east of the one wherein it was discovered in July, 1907. Indeed, 

 in the latter field, but few were noted this year. Since its re- 

 appearance the past spring, it has been observed every month 

 up to this writing; and although it doubtless breeds in Ells- 

 worth, quite a little systematic search failed to disclose its nest. 



After its arrival, ere the grass had grown thick enough to 

 provide sufficient hiding, it was interesting to fix the eyes on 

 the distant point where a Henslow had dropped down, and 

 stalk it. Thus, by working carefully and -slowly, I got within 

 three or four feet of one several times, as it crouched ready to 

 spring into flight, motionlessly regarding me. I could note the 

 interesting pattern of its sparrow coat, the quick heaving of its 

 breast and the twinkle oi its clear bright e^e, and I even tried 

 to clap my hat over it — I had no salt — but it just escaped, and 



