FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 57 J 



at the Summit Meadows, near the summit of Donner Lake Pass of the Sierra 

 Nevada, at au altitude of about seven thousand feet. It was there an abun- 

 dant and characteristic bird. The males were in full song in all parts of the 

 meadow, and were nesting in such numbers that on the evening of July 9, 

 on halting for the night, in a hurried search no less than twenty-seven of 

 their eggs were obtained within about fifteen minutes. In every instance 

 the nests were embedded under a species of dwarf-willow, with which the 

 ground was covered. The birds were extremely unsuspicious, the male often 

 sitting on a bush within a few feet of the collector, and chanting merrily as 

 the eggs were being blown. In one instance, having occasion to repass a spot 

 from wliich a nest had been taken, the female was found sitting in the cavity 

 from which its nest had been removed. This species is only a winter visitant 

 of the lower country, but is there universally distributed, and always found 

 in busliy localities. 



Mr. Bannister states that this bird was tolerably abundant among the 

 alder-bushes in certain parts of St. Michael's Island. Mr. Dall found it 

 common at Nulato, and especially so at Fort Yukon. It arrived at Nulato 

 about May 20. Its nests and eggs were obtained from Indians at Nowika- 

 kat, on the Yukon Eiver. Dr. Kennerly met with these birds, in February, 

 at White Cliff Creek, New IVIexico. They were first observed on approach- 

 ing the Big Sandy, and from thence to the Colorado they were found in abun- 

 dance. They were mostly in flocks, and were generally found among the 

 bushes, in the vicinity of water. He also met with it in the valley of the 

 Rio Grande, Corralitos, and Janos Elvers. It seemed to prefer the vicinity 

 of settlements, where it was always seen in greater numbers than else- 

 where. 



Mr. Dresser found these birds common about San Antonio, Texas, during 

 the winter, arriving late in September. Some may remain and breed, as sev- 

 eral were observed there in June. Dr. Coues also found them abundant in 

 Arizona, where he first observed them September 15. After this they became 

 exceedingly numerous, and remained so until January. Later than this only 

 a few stragglers were seen, until April, when they again became abundant. 

 By far the greater part left, and proceeded north to breed. 



These Sparrows were found breeding on the Yukon and at Fort Anderson 

 in great numbers by Messrs. MacFarlane, Lockhart, and Eoss. Their nests 

 were in nearly all cases found upon the ground, often in tufts of grass, 

 clumps of Labrador tea, or otlier low buslies. Tliey were composed of hay, 

 and, in nearly every instance, were lined with deer's hair, and in a few with 

 feathers. A few were without any lining. In selecting a situation for their 

 nests, they seemed generally to give the preference to open or thinly wooded 

 tracts. The male bird was usually seen, or its note heard, in the immediate 

 vicinity of the nest. The eggs were obtained from the 4th of June to the 

 1st of July. Their maximum number was six ; the most connnon, four. 



jSIr. B. E. Eoss states that this species arrives at the Arctic Circle from 



