OF NEW ENGLAND. 98 
last week of May. Four or five eggs are then laid, averaging 
-78 X°60 of an inch, and normally are white, with a wreath of 
blended reddish-brown and obscure lilac spots about the greater 
end, and a few scattered spots of the former color elsewhere. 
In some cases the markings cover the greater end, so that there 
is no distinct ring. 
(c). My own observations have shown me that the Yellow- 
winged Sparrows are rare, at least in some parts of Eastern 
Massachusetts, though common in others, during their com- 
paratively brief residence here through May and the summer- 
months. Mr. Maynard, however, considers them as ‘not un- 
common” throughout this district, being ‘‘very numerous on 
Nantucket Island ;” but Mr. Allen is, I think, right in believ- 
ing them to be more abundant in the western than in the other 
portions of the State, as, for instance, near Springfield. To 
the northward of Massachusetts they perhaps do not occur. 
They frequent almost exclusively dry fields, particularly such 
as are sandy or do not contain a luxuriant vegetation, and 
feed upon seeds and insects. They are rather shy, and often 
nimbly escape a near approach. They run with ease, and 
never leave the ground, except to take a short, low flight, or 
to perch upon the top of some weed, or on some fence. 
Though often more or less collective, they are never strictly 
gregarious. 
(d). Their ordinary notes are a chirr, much like the note of 
some insect, and an occasional chick. Their song is so pecul- 
iar as to be quite characteristic, and may be represented by 
the syllables ‘‘ chick’, chick-a-séé,” with the chief accent on the 
last and highest of these. Wilson speaks of their ‘short, 
weak, interrupted chirrup.” 
(B) HnENsLow!l. Henslow’s Bunting. Henslow’s Sparrow. 
(A summer-resident in Massachusetts of rarity.) 
(a). Five inches long (or less). Like passerinws (A, a) but 
‘‘more yellowish above, and with sharp maxillary, pectoral 
and lateral black streaks below.” (Coues.) 
(b). The nest, which is somewhat coarse, is built upon the 
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