CouM.) 114 lOctober 7, 



Font. 15. — Alaudid.k. 



78. Ercmnphiln cornuta. Shore Lark. Com.; in flocks, Nov. to 

 middle ot" Mcli. 



Fnm. 16. — Fringillid^. 



Such hordes of sparrows enter the Caroliuas in October, and pass 

 the winter, that one is almost tempted to believe that these States 

 form their winter quarters. The small streaked and spotted species — 

 the sparrows par excellence — mostly associated together, and are 

 sometimes seen in flocks to be numbered by thousands. During the 

 winter they frecpient old corn, rice, and cotton fields, briery tracts, 

 hedgerows, etc. In the spring, for a few weeks before the great body 

 ot" them depart, they scatter in smaller companies through the woods 

 and feed extensively upon buds of trees, as well as insects. The 

 extent to which our small conirostrals feed upon these articles in 

 spring, is perhajjs hardly recognized, except in the cases of such birds 

 ;is the Carpodacl, etc. 



79. Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. Com.; win.; from 

 Oct. until all the buds have expanded; stragglers at least through 

 greater part of Apr. 



80. Chri/.-iuinltrls trislis. Gold Finch. Ab. ; res. 



81. C. plnuH. Pine Finch. Not com.; irregular; win. Nov. to 

 Apr. 



We have no record of the occurrence of either Snow Buntings, 

 Crossbills, or Redpolls, so far south; but they may possibly occasion- 

 ally stray to the Carolinas in severe winters, as even the Snowj' Owl 

 is known to do. 



82. Passercidus savanna. Savannah Sparrow. Very ab. ; Oct. — 

 Apr., in large flocks, with other species. In coming S. in the fall, 

 most of these birds do not stop short of the Carolinas, though a few 

 pass the winter at Washington, D. C. None breed so far S. 



83. Pooccetes gramlneus. Grass Finch. Extremely ab. ; win., 

 Oct. — Apr.; a few possibly breed. The Grass Finches are particu- 

 lai-ly fond of cotton fields ; I have met with flocks of many hundreds 

 in such situations. AVhen such a flock is startled fi-om the ground, the 

 shadowy gray forms, inextricably confused in erratic flight, and the 

 continuous whirr of numberless wings conspire to a scene not easily 

 forgotten. The little birds soon after their arrival become extremely 

 fat, and when in this condition there are no more delicious morsels to 

 be fuund for the table. 



