Vol i8c/. ln ] Bishop. New Hints from North Dakota. 133 



A small series of Song Sparrows taken in Towner and Rolette 

 Counties, North Dakota, during the spring and summer of 1895, 

 may be separated from the eastern bird by the above characters. 

 In general measurements, and in size and shape of the bill, this 

 form is indistinguishable from M. fasciata, and shows no approach 

 to M. /'. montana in these respects, or in coloring. In general 

 appearance it is characterized by a marked contrast between the 

 light and dark portions of the plumage, most conspicuous in the 

 interscapular region, while in fasciata the colors are more softly 

 blended. From samuelis and heermanni — perhaps its nearest 

 allies after fasciata — it can easily be distinguished by a much 

 paler ground color and less intense dark markings. ^ong Spar- 

 rows in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History, 

 taken near Fort Snelling, Minnesota, during the spring, are inter- 

 mediate between the Dakota bird and that inhabiting the Atlantic 

 coast, but more closely resemble the latter. 



In habits the Dakota Song Sparrow resembles the eastern bird, 

 living in the brush which grows along the banks of the 'coulees.' 

 It arrives in Towner County the latter part of April, but is by no 

 means common on the prairie. One or two pairs nested at Rock 

 Lake on a small island, which was covered with a tangled growth 

 of willows, hawthorns and rose-bushes. We found it, however, 

 quite common during June and July in the Turtle Mountains, 

 inhabiting both the brush of the clearings and the reed-grown 

 margins of retired lakes. The song is quite different from that 

 of fasciata, being clearer, sweeter and more powerful. The first 

 one 1 heard singing I could not believe was a Song Sparrow until 

 I had the bird in my hand. 



Two nests were found in the Turtle Mountains: the first on 

 June 14, containing three young, one egg, and one egg of the 

 Cowbird. This nest was composed of grass, and completely con- 

 cealed in some high, dry and matted grass, on the borders of a 

 small and secluded lake. The other nest was taken by Mr. Hoyt 

 on July 11, and, thanks to his kindness, three of the four eggs 

 which it contained are now in my collection. This nest was 

 similar to the other, and hidden in the high grass of a hay slough. 



The eggs, which average .75 in. in length by .60 in. in breadth, 

 show a tendency to a sub-pyriform outline — a shape certainly 



