Wayne: Birds of South Carolina. 125 



quent hedges as well as the interior of large forests, and flocks 

 of hundreds of birds are commonly to be seen in March. The 

 song of the birds that breed near the coast very closely resembles 

 that of Bachman's Warbler {Vermivora hachmani) , and that of 

 the Worm-eating Warbler {Helmitheros v er minor us) , being wiry, 

 or like the "song" of certain insects. This famiUar species 

 breeds from the Gulf States to Great Slave Lake. 



215. Spizella pusilla (Wils.). P'ield Sparrow. 



During the autumn, winter, and early spring months every 

 hedgerow is full of these valuable and interesting little birds. 

 They breed abundantly, yet locally, on and near the coast. At 

 Yemassee, Ridgeville, and places not far from Charleston and 

 Mount Pleasant, it is really abundant in the breeding season in 

 open pasture lands that are here and there grown up with low 

 bushes. 



On the rice plantation of Mr. B. B. Fur man, which is known 

 as Fair Lawn, on the Wando River, it breeds on lands which are 

 subjected to overflow from spring tides. The song period is of 

 long duration, lasting from April until late in August. 



Although I have never found the nest and eggs I am satisfied 

 that three broods are raised each year. The first is on the wing 

 late in May, and I have taken young birds at Yemassee as late as 

 August 16. It appears that neither Bachman nor Audubon 

 knew that either this species or the Chipping Sparrow ever bred 

 in the low coast region of this state. 



This species is subject to albinism. I have taken more than 

 fifteen specimens during the past twenty-five years that showed 

 albinism in a greater or less degree, and have seen perhaps as 

 many more that I was unable to secure. 



The breeding range of this species extends from northwestern 

 Florida (Wacissa River), to Maine. 



216. Junco hyemalis (Linn.). Slate-colored Junco; 

 Snowbird. 



This species is known by the name of Snowbird, the word 

 Junco as applied to it being a book-name unknown to most per- 

 sons in the State. My earliest records of the arrival of these 

 birds are November 11, 1885, and November 4, 1897, and l)y 

 the 20th of the month they are common. The Snowbird inhab- 

 its hedgerows which border woods and fields, but it by no means 



