554 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



CJosse. It is scarcely possible to distinguish these Jamaican specimens from 

 examples from the Eastern Province of the United States, though minute 

 differences are observable. Their size is somewhat smaller, but they are resi- 

 dent in the region where obtained ; and the shades of color are just appre- 

 ciably darker. There are, however, no differences sufficient to justify retain- 

 ing the name tixicrus, to designate even a variety. 



All the specimens in the collection from Mexico and Guatemala are in 

 the autumnal or winter dress, so that it is probable that they are not resi- 

 dent there ; they appear to be identical with North American specimens, and 

 referrible to the variety jjasserinus as restricted. 



Between summer and winter specimens great differences are observable ; 

 in the former season the edges of the feathers become worn, so that often the 

 chestnut spots disappear entirely, while the other markings become poorly 

 defined, leaving the black blotches predominant. 



Habits. The common Yellow-winged Sparrow appears to be a bird of 

 irregular and unequal distribution, found in certain localities in great abun- 

 dance, and not seen in the intervening districts. According to some writers, 

 it is partial to sandy places near the sea, and this is certainly true of tlie 

 neighborhood of New York City, and also of a large portion of the New 

 Jersey coast. It is likewise the case in certain portions of Eastern Massa- 

 chusetts, as, according to Mr. Maynard, this species is very numerous in 

 Nantucket, where it breeds abundantly. I have never met with this Sparrow 

 in Massachusetts, except in a single instance, near Boston, nor in any collec- 

 tions of eggs have I seen any that I supposed could be those of this species ; 

 yet in the western part of the State, according to Mr. Allen, it is an abun- 

 dant summer visitant, arriving tliere about the first week in May, and leav- 

 ing early in September, breeding in dry fields and pastures, and raising two 

 broods in a season. According to Mr. Boardman, it is an occasional ^'isitant 

 in the neighborhood of Calais, yet rare ; arriving there the first of April, five 

 weeks earlier than it shows itself in Springfield. Yet that this bird has 

 ever been met with between Boston and Calais does not appear. It was not 

 seen in Western Maine by Professor Verrill. 



In the vicinity of Hartford, Conn., this bird appears also to be a not un- 

 common summer resident. In 1860, I received from Mr. T. S. Brandigee 

 several nests found in that neighborhood. They were all constructed on the 

 ground, in a field of thin grass, and their tops were all nearly covered over. 



Dr. Heermann states that he found this bird a not uncommon species, in 

 the summer season, near San Antonio ; and Mr. Dresser also procured a speci- 

 men there in the early summer. Dr. Lincecum mentions it as a common 

 resident in Washington County, in the same State. He describes it as a 

 close-hiding Grass Sparrow, running on the ground in the manner of a mouse, 

 and never seen to alight on trees. Dr. Coues speaks of it as a resident 

 species in South Carolina, especially abundant during the period of migra- 

 tion. 



