SPARROWS 403 



scot Bay during a more extended time than is shown by the 

 records of its capture. The range of dates, if none have been 

 overlooked, show that the species occurs only from October 

 eleventh to March twenty -eighth, but it seems likely that Sep- 

 tember and April specimens might be recorded if careful search 

 were made daily in the proper localities. It may occur along 

 the coast east from Penobscot Bay, the region being little vis- 

 ited by ornithologists at the season when the species is likely 

 to occur. 



Mr. Brown states that between Scarboro Beach and the Saco 

 River a collector could find a dozen or more of these birds at 

 almost any date between October thirteenth and November 

 sixth, later than which he never looked for them. Dr. Dwight 

 has placed on record the statement of Mr. Boutelier that 

 these birds began to leave Sable Island early in September. 

 He says there are no autumn or winter records for any point 

 north of Portland, Maine (and indeed the only exceptions to 

 Dr. Dwight's statements are the specimens taken by Captain 

 Spinney and Mr. Rackliff), and there are very few spring 

 records for New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. 



Dr. Dwight writes of the species as running along, head 

 downward, among the tussocks and vegetation of the sand 

 dunes, presently taking wing and flying away, sometimes with 

 a "chip" but more oftener silently and rapidly, often a long 

 distance before alighting. They generally run a distance 

 before they fly, and prefer to frequent the sand dunes covered 

 with grass rather than the salt marshes in which they are seldom 

 found. In the mating season they bow and flutter before their 

 intended brides, uttering a murmuring chirping. The males 

 often give notice to their incubating mates of the approach of 

 danger by uttering suppressed "tchips" when the females sneak 

 off" the nests and presently join them. Practically the only 

 way to find a nest is by flushing the female from it, when if 

 incubation is advanced she will flutter away with an appearance 

 of being severely injured. The male has a song which has been 



