476 General Notes. [^^'J^ 



by me in October in the marshes around Charleston, S. C, I reahzed 

 that the bird was Nelson's Finch. It was an adult female, very bright 

 and fresh in color; ova about the size of No. 10 shot; and save for the loss 

 of a few back feathers, in excellent condition. The skin is now in my 

 collection (No. 1379). If I had been out collecting, with no special thought 

 for this species, and had seen the bird as it would probably have appeared 

 in the high grass, doubtless I would have passed it by for a Yellow-winged 

 Sparrow. They may therefore occur here every spring on their passage 

 North. I searched the meadow carefully during the next two days, but 

 saw nothing further of the species. It may therefore have been an acci- 

 dental occurrence, the knowledge of which is due to the ornithological 

 discrimination of my maltese cat. — Ellison A. Smyth, Jr., Blacksburg, 

 Va. 



Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) in Camden County, Georgia. — 

 On the afternoon of August 11, 1908, I noticed a sparrow sitting on the 

 wire fence of my field, and at first took it to be a Vesper Sparrow that had 

 arrived ahead of time but on closer inspection I saw the difference and shot 

 it. It proved to be a male Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) and is 

 now in my collection. — Isaac F. Arnow, St. Marys, Ga. 



Lark Sparrow {Chondestes grammacus) in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

 — On June 22, 1908, at Leetsdale, Pa., I observed a Lark Sparrow 

 {Chondestes grammacus) hopping along the public road in company with 

 several Vesper Sparrows. I at first mistook it for one of the latter, but 

 as it flitted to a nearby fence the fan-shaped, white-tipped tail attracted 

 my attention, and I recognized the bird. On the next day I saw another 

 of the birds on the road making active attempts to catch a small butterfly, 

 and I secured the specimen. On June 24 I secured another specimen in a 

 stone quarry along a narrow road through a woods, this being the last bird 

 of the species seen, although I lookeil carefully for them. Both birds 

 taken were males in rather worn plumage, and the testes in the last speci- 

 men were greatly enlarged. 



The Red-headed Woodpecker {Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is very rare 

 in this locality this season, but most all other birds appear to be on the 

 increase. — Wm. G. Pitcairn, Allegheny, Pa. 



Chondestes grammacus at Ipswich, Mass. — I wish to record that^on 

 August 28, 1908, Miss E. D. Boardman antl I saw in a newly planted field 

 at Ipswich, a fine Lark Sparrow. The bird was associated with Chipping, 

 Vesper and Song Sparrows. We were attracted at once by the curious 

 face markings, the unstreaked breast with the small black spot, the rounded 

 tail tipped with white, the outer feathers with much white. These details 

 were all carefully noted at a distance of fifteen feet, as the bird was feeding. 

 Having seen them in the West I knew it was a Lark Sparrow, the second 

 record, I believe, for Ipswich. — - Lidian E. Bridge, West Medford, Mass, 



