264 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



characteristic. It was built among the dunes just above the level of the highest 

 tides on the shore of an estuary. The nest was concealed by a tuft of grass, 

 and its bottom, which must have been excavated for the purpose, was below the 

 level of the sand which was also rounded up about it. It was made of coarse 

 grass, and neatly lined with fine grass. It contained four eggs. Nests are 

 sometimes placed beneath mats of dead thatch-grass. 



Abundant as the Savanna Sparrow is in summer, it is still more abundant 

 during the migrations especially on the upper parts of the beaches and in the 

 dunes. It is a persistent and interesting if not beautiful singer. Its song con- 

 sists of two preliminary cliips followed by two trills, the first grasshopper-like, 

 the second rather sweet and musical. To many ears the first trill is inaudible 

 except when the bird is near at hand. I have heard a bird repeat its song five 

 times in a minute, and they may be heard singing during their entire stay with 

 us. Their call note is a sharp tsip and when they chase each other, which they 

 frequently do, they make a loud bzzz. Occasionally a loud, smacking note may 

 be heard and on rare occasions a soft feeble warble takes the place of a song. 

 I have heard this even in the spring given by an adult. 



The Savanna Sparrow runs but also hops, being more of a hopper than 

 the Ipswich Sparrow which rarely resorts to hopping. I have also seen them 

 scratch. They run through the grass with head down and disappear with great 

 rapidity, but they are much tamer than their cousins the Sharp-tails. They are 

 fond of chasing each other either in sport or in anger, and I have seen them fac- 

 ing each other like fighting cocks. 



[545] Coturniculus bairdii (Aud.). Baird's Sparrow. The fir6t specimens of Ipswich 

 Sparrow (Pmsserculus frhiceps) were erroneously referred to this species, and were figured by 

 Maynard' under this name. 



223 [546] Coturniculus savannarum passerinus (Wils.). 

 Grasshopper Sparrow; Yellow-winged Sparrow. 



Not uncommon summer resident, locally ; May 10 to July 21. 



It was many years before I discovered that the Grasshopper Sparrow was at 

 my doors, but once introduced to this interesting bird, I have had no difficulty in 

 finding it again. Its fluttering, wren-like flight close to the ground, as if it were 



1 C. J. Maynard: The Naturalist's Guide, p. 112, 1870; see also J. A. Allen: Amer. Nat., vol. 

 3, p. 631, 1870. 



