FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 555 



It has been found quite common, during the winter months, in Central 

 America, specimens having been procured there by Senor Constancia, Mr. 

 Skinner, and Dr. Van Patten. It was also found at Oaxaca, Mexico, by Mr. 

 Boucard. 



]\Ir. Nuttall and Mr. Audubon speak of it as occurring in Oregon, but Dr. 

 Cooper did not meet with it on tlie Pacific coast. Dr. Kennerly obtained a 

 single specimen on one of the forks of the Colorado, in February. Mr. Pidg- 

 way met with the western form of this species, in suitable places, in the 

 Sacramento Valley and the Great Basin, and proposes for it the name of pcr- 

 paliidus. 



In the vicinity of Newark, N. J., I have found this species apparently one 

 of the most abundant in that neighborhood, having obtained there in the 

 month of June more eggs of tliis than of any other species. 



In Northfield, 111., near the lake shore, jNIr. Pobert Kennicott met with 

 the nests of these birds in great abundance. From these facts I infer that 

 it is not necessarily or exclusively a bird of the sea-shore, but that in cer- 

 tain favorable localities it is as abundant in the interior as on the coast, and 

 that at intervals it may be met with from Texas to Maine, and from the 

 Atlantic to the interior, nearly or quite to the Pacific coast. 



In Jamaica, Mr. March states, this species is not uncommon in the savan- 

 nas and grass lands near Spanish Town. It is a resident in that island, 

 and breeds there in considerable numbers, nesting in tufts of grass-roots. 

 It is only common in certain localities. 



I have never heard its note to know it. Wilson speaks of it as a short, 

 weak, interrupted chirp. According to Mr. Ridgway, it bears a close resem- 

 blance to the note of a grasshopper. Nuttall says they sing in an agreeable 

 voice, something like that of the Purple Finch, though less vigorously ; and 

 Audubon characterizes it as an unmusical ditty, composed of a few notes 

 weakly enunciated at intervals. 



It is terrestrial in its habits, living, nesting, and feeding on or near the 

 ground. It subsists on larvse, insects, and the seeds of grasses and small 

 weeds. 



This bird builds its nest on the ground, usually in a small tuft of grass or 

 in a cluster of plants. It is made of dry grasses, and is lined with fine bent 

 and liorsehair. The young are said to follow their parents for a short time, 

 but soon separate, and learn to take care of themselves. This species is not 

 gregarious, and is never seen in flocks, not even when just about to migrate. 



Wilson and Nuttall describe the eggs as grayish-white, sprinkled witli 

 brown. Audulion says they are dingy-white, sprinkled with brown spots. 

 Tliis is not accurate. The ground-color is a clear crystalline white, beau- 

 tifully daslied and marbled with bold markings of an almost golden brown. 

 These spots* vary in size, are often quite large, and occasionally make a 

 corona about the larger end. The eggs are of a rounded oval, almost spheri- 

 cal, shape, measuring .75 by .63 of an inch. 



