60 



AVIFAUNA COLUMBIANA. 



87. (122.) Pocecetes gramineus (Gm.) Bd. Grass Finch; Bay-winged Bunting. 

 Eesident all the year ; very numerous in spring and autumn, during the 

 migrations, less so in summer and winter, as the greater number'of indi- 

 viduals go farther north and farther south at the seasons named. It is 

 to be found in high, dry fields, along roadsides and hedgerows, usually in 

 small flocks, readily identified by the white feathers which show on each 



Fig. 33.— Grass Finch. 



^ 



side of the tail as the bird flies. Besides the ordinary chirping note, it 

 has a sweet and tender song during the breeding season, especially 

 just at sun-down ; whence the poetical name of " Vesper-bird." The 

 nest is placed on the ground, so sunken that its brim is flush with the 

 surface; the eggs are heavily spotted. [232] 



88. (123.) Coturniculus passerinus (THZs.) lip. Yellow-winged Sparrow; 

 Grasshopper Sparrow. 

 A summer resident, abundant in old weedy fields and seedy meadows, 





**' 



iV tfV* 



Fig. 34. — Yellow-winged. Sparrow. 



•where it keeps closely concealed in the rank herbage, and is, therefore, 

 not easily discovered. Its ordinary flight is very brief, rapid, and des- 



