FRINC.ILLID.E. 



i57 



than the 29th of May, nor hiter than lul}-, I find this species recorded 

 from the east branch of the Navesink. Though I failed to note the 

 bird within a few miles of the locality given, the record allows a 

 suspicion that the species may occasionally summer in the region. 



Spizella (lomcstiea (Bartr.) Coues. Chipping Sparrow. 



Common about cultivation; being replaced by the Snowbird, of 

 very similar song, in wilder situations. 



Spizella a£:restis (Bartr.) Coues. Field Sparrow. 



Uncomnion, although several times met with: but not at a higher 

 altitude than 2.000 feet. 



Juuco hiemalis (L.) Scl. Slate-colored Snowbird 



Met with almost everywhere, except in the lower and more culti- 

 vated portions of the valleys, this species may be considered the 

 most universally distributed bird of the Catskills. 



In the valleys, it may be observed along the roadsides, or even 

 hopping about in the roadway like the common Song Sparrow; while 

 it is also found in the woodland glades, and penetrates the mountain 

 forests up to the highest altitudes, where no other ground nesting 

 member of its family attains. Sloping banks overgrown with moss, 

 ferns, and wood-plants, along the borders of mountain roads, are 

 favorite nesting sites. Data of its nidification in the Catskills indi- 

 cates great variation in the time of laying, and also that two or more 

 broods are reared. On May 30 and 31, 1874, two nests, each with 

 four eees containing embrvos, were found bv mv brothers, and July 

 7 and 8. of the same year, two nests contamed equal sets ot eggs 

 perfectly fresh. In June. 1880. young only were found, but oi great 

 diversity of age; on the 7th a brood, out of tlvt nest, and well able to 

 fly was met with, and just a week later two broods were about equally 

 advanced; but on the 8th, a nest contained young but a tew days old, 

 and on the loth. the living contents of another nest were about half 

 grown. A nest on June 20. 1873. contained two young and a single 

 egg. Of three nests examined by Mr. Pearsall between June 5 and 7, 

 the eggs were, in one almost fresh; in another almost hatched; in the 

 remaining one in a condition intermediate to the other two. So far 

 as observed the number of eggs or young was always four, both at 

 the earliest and latest limits of the breeding season. 



One nest was built in a cavity scooped directly beneath part of 

 a fence-rail lying on the ground, and was most effectually concealed ; 

 another was very similarly situated. 



Melospiza fasclata (Gm.) Scott. Song Sparrow. 

 Common. 



