Vol. XXin Currier, Sutnmer Birds of Leech Lake, Minn. ^^ 



67. Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. — I found this bird not uncommon, 

 in parties of from 6 to 30, in the tamarack swamps in 1902. In 1903 we 

 did not see any- I have no doubt they bred there in 1902, as on the 8th 

 and 9th of June I saw several groups feeding near the ends of branches 

 of balsam trees. The whole flock seemed to keep up a twittering sort of 

 a conversation, and at times one would break into a low, rather sweet 

 song. 



68. Poaecetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow. — In 1902 they seemed 

 to be rather scarce. That jear I saw but one nest ; this was on June 3, 

 and it contained three young. In 1903, we found them to be common 

 around Walker in the bare or cleared places, along the railroads or wagon 

 roads. Tliis year we saw six nests, five containing four eggs each, and 

 one four ^oung. 



69. Zonotrichia albicoUis. White-throated Sparrow. — Abundant 

 in the partially cleared country about Walker, and often heard in the 

 wilder forest regions. 



We saw many nests containing from three to six eggs. May 31, 1903, 1 

 found one nest containing four newly hatched young, but this seemed to 

 be an unusually early pair. At that date most of the nests had incomplete 

 sets or the eggs were fresh. The nests were all much alike, being sunken 

 to the brim, and as a rule well hidden under brush or a rank growth of 

 ferns, plants, etc. Several were placed just at the foot of small white 

 pine shrubs and in such cases were completely concealed. There were 

 exceptional cases where the nest could be looked into without disturbing 

 any of the surroundings. One nest in particular, along a path, was in 

 plain sight with no concealment, but the owners had deserted it before 

 laying. There were other nests that were hard to find even after flushing 

 the bird. One I saw in 1902 was well under a dead tree top and I did not 

 find it until I had removed some of the brush. The bird does not flush 

 directly from the nest like the Vesper and Song Sparrows, but runs off 

 like a mouse. 



70. Spizella socialis. Chipping Sparrow. — Common about the 

 settlements, and along the railroads and wagon roads. Found with, but 

 not nearly so numerous as the next. Many nests found, usually placed 

 in small pine shrubs. 



71. Spizella pallida. Clay-colored Sparrow. — A plentiful bird 

 in the brush land around Walker and along the railroads. It is a pretty 

 little sparrow, with a confiding manner, but an unpleasant song. They 

 were constant singers, too, while we were there, and it is one of the few 

 bird songs I have found disagreeable. It is a buzzing, rasping noise, a 

 little like the song of the cicada, but not so musical, and given with 

 much vigor. A friend who was with me part of the time in 1902, would 

 call the bird nothing but the "rasper," and I thought the name very 

 appropriate. 



They inhabit much the same kind of a country as does 5. pusilla 

 further south, and they nest in much the same manner. As a rule the 



