FRINGILLID.'E — THE FINCHES. 



563 



Hab. From Wisconsin and Illinois (also in Michigan and Ohio) to the Pacific coast; 

 Cape St. Lucas, south to Texas and Mexico. Oaxaca (Sol. 1859, 379) ; Vera Cruz (winter, 

 SuMicHRAST, 552) ; Eastern Massachusetts, accidental (Maynard). 



The colors of the female are duller than in the male, the chestnut less 

 bright, the black not so intense ; the pattern, however, is the same. 



The young bird has the breast and 

 throat with a good many spots of dark 

 brown instead of the single large one 

 on the breast. The other markhigs are 

 more obscure. 



Habits. The Lark Finch is found 

 from Eastern Illinois to the Pacific, and 

 from Oregon to Texas. Within this wide 

 area of distribution it is everywhere 

 abundant in the open prairies and 

 plains. It is not found in wooded re- 

 gions. This bird was described by Say, 

 and was nrst met with by Long s expe- 

 dition to the Missouri Eiver. It was not known to either Wilson or Au- 

 dubon, and its habits M'ere very imperfectly known to Nuttall. 



Mr. Dresser found this bird very abundant in Texas throughout the sum- 

 mer, arriving in the neighborhood of San Antonio in INIarch, and leaving 

 there early in October. He found their nests quite common, and usually 

 built in a mesquite tree or bush, of fine roots and grasses. Dr. Heermann 

 also found it abundant in New Mexico. In Arizona, Dr. Coues found it, 

 chiefly in spring and autumn, a migrant, and, at those seasons, very numer- 

 ous. Many remain during the summer to breed, and a few are found in the 

 winter. It was met with near New Leon, Mexico, by Lieutenant Couch, but 

 was not obtained in Vera Cruz by Sumichrast. It was taken near Oaxaca, 

 Mexico, by Mr. Boucard. A single specimen was obtained at Fort Dalles in 

 Oregon, by Dr. Suckley, but it was not met with by him west of the Cascade 

 Mountains. Mr. Townsend states that he also found it in that region. 



Dr. Cooper did not find this species in the Colorado Valley, though it has 

 been obtained at Fort Yuma in December ; and, as he has met with them in 

 large flocks in the valleys of San Diego in February, he concludes that they 

 winter in the southern part of California. They breed from San Diego 

 throughout California, and as far north as the Columbia, where they arrive 

 early in May. Dr. Cooper has never foinid their nest in California, but 

 has frequently met with it in Kansas and Nebraska in May and June. 

 He found them on the ground, and their nests were constructed chiefly of 

 grass. 



He speaks of them as singing very sweetly, and states that in their song 

 they resemble the Canary more than any other bird. They frequent the 

 open plains, usually in the neighborhood of trees, upon which they often 



