Vol. XVI 



Allison, The Sparrows of Mississippi. 260 



songsters, and in the early morning both thicket and orchard ring with 

 their clear, sweet notes. They are extremely fond of mingling with 

 other species, and I have seen an immense flock composed of White- 

 throated, Chipping, Field, Song and Swamp Sparrows, and Slate-colored 

 Juncos, all feeding together on the best of terms. 



Spizella socialis. Chipping Sparrows. — In the pine regions of 

 Mississippi it is about equally abundant with the Field Sparrow (S. 

 pusilla) in winter, though on the coast it is common'er than the latter. 

 As a breeder it does not occur on the coast, but breeds abundantly, 

 though rather irregularly, in Amite County. In 1S97 I saw not a single 

 individual until the winter numbers began to arrive, whereas in 1S94 anc * 

 1S95 it bred abundantly. Madison County, though farther north than 

 Amite, has very little pine forest, and I have never found the species 

 there at all. 



The influx of winter birds begins, in Amite County, in October, and 

 shortly after they become so numerous that it is hard to determine when 

 the migration ceases : about the 25th of October the flocks become very 

 large, and are seen feeding impartially on the ground in the pine groves 

 with Pine Warblers {Dendroica z'igorsii), or in the thickets with White- 

 throated Sparrows. In the 'deadenings,' or tracts of open land, where the 

 pines have been girdled, they fly in small scattered flocks restlessly from 

 tree to tree, and flocks are continually descending to feed with the main 

 body on the ground, where perhaps two or three hundred may be gath- 

 ered at a time. 



Spizella pusilla. Field Sparrow. — This species breeds sparingly in 

 Amite County, abundantly in Madison County and thence northward. 

 Early in October the winter numbers begin to arrive in the former 

 county, and are then much associated with the preceding species. 



Junco hyemalis. Slate-colored Jlnco. — Arrives from the middle of 

 October until about the same time in November, and winters abundantly, 

 though apparently only reaching the coast in very severe winters. 



Peucaea aestivalis bachmanii. Bachman's Sparrow. — It hardly seems 

 to deserve its name of ' Pinewood Sparrow' except in the extreme south of 

 the State; in Madison County it breeds abundantly in the grass-fields, but 

 seems to confine its attention largely to that county, as in Amite County 

 I have seen but three specimens, a male, and two young of the year. 

 These were found in an open grassy field on Sept. 26, 27, and 30, and all 

 were taken. 



On the coast, however, it is a common bird in the pine woods, and enjoys 

 the distinction of being the only Sparrow breeding there. Its habits here 

 remind one sometimes of the Savanna, sometimes of the Chipping 

 Sparrow, while farther north it suggests the Field Sparrow strongly. 



Melospiza fasciata. Song Sparrow. — This is generally a rare 

 breeder in Mississippi, though probably more common in that capacity in 

 the most northern parts. The only instance of its nesting in central 

 Mississippi, that has come to my notice, was in Madison County, in 1S93 ; 



