FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 67 



In Massachusetts it is extremely rare. Mr. Hopkins found it breeding in 

 AVilliamstown, and sent me its eggs. I have also met with its nest and eggs, 

 in a low meadow near the sea, in Hingham. In both of these instances the 

 nest was on the ground. A specimen was shot in Newton by Mr. John Thax- 

 ter, June 26, 1857, that had all the appearance of being then in the process 

 of incubation. Throughout Pennsylvania, and in the vicinity of Washing- 

 ton, these birds are quite common. 



Wilson states that they are very common in the vicinity of Philadelphia, 

 where they make their appearance in the middle of May, and where they 

 seem to prefer level fields covered with rye-grass, clover, or timothy. They 

 are described as more conspicuous for the quantity than for the quality of 

 their song. This consists of three notes, sounding like cliip-chip^che-che-che. 

 Of this unmusical ditty they are by no means parsimonious, and for nearly 

 three months after their first arrival, every level field of grain or grass re- 

 sounds with their quaint serenade. In their shape and manners, Wilson 

 states, they bear a close resemblance to the Eniberiza citrinclla of Europe. 

 They become silent by September, and in the course of that month depart 

 for the southwest. It is a rare bird in South Carolina, but is very abundant 

 in Texas, where it is also resident, and undoubtedly breeds. Audubon states 

 that he was surprised to see how numerous they were in every open piece of 

 ground throughout that State, especially those covered with tufts of grass. 

 They are, he states, not so common in Ohio, and quite rare in Kentucky. 

 They are especially abundant in the open lands of Indiana, Illinois, Wiscon- 

 sin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska ; and tliey have been found breed- 

 ing as far to the west as Wyoming Territory, near to the base of the eastern 

 range of the Eocky Mountains. Mr. Allen found this species one of the 

 most abundant birds of Western Iowa, characterizing it as eminently a prai- 

 rie species, and one of the few inhabitants of the wide open stretches. 



Mr. Dresser found, early in May, numbers of these birds in the mesquite 

 thickets near the San Antonio and Medina Elvers, and, as he found them 

 equally numerous there in July, he naturally infers that they breed in that 

 neighborhood. Dr. Heermann obtained some eggs which he had no doubt 

 belonged to this species, though he w^as unable to secure the parent. 



It has also been found in Western Texas and in the Indian Territory by 

 Mr. J. H. Clark, in Texas by Dr. Lincecum, at the Kiowa agency by Dr. 

 Palmer, and on the Yellowstone by Dr. Hayden. 



This bird is not gregarious, always moving in pairs, and although, as they 

 are preparing for their migrations, they congregate in particular localities, 

 they always keep somewhat apart in family groups, and do not mingle pro- 

 miscuously as do many others of this family. They are, at all times, unsus- 

 picious and easily approached, and when fired at \vill often return to the 

 same field from which they were startled. They are very partial to certain 

 localities, and are rarely to be met with in sandy regions. 



Mr. Audubon states that the notes of this species very closely resemble 



