140 On the Birds of Ritchie Count}/. 



48. Virco solitarius (Wils.) V. Rather uncommon. May possibly 

 breed, as we saw them up to the date of our departure. 



49. Virco Noveboracensis (Gm.) Bp. Several individuals were pro- 

 cured by Mr. Ingersoll in September, 1873. Singularly enough it was 

 not detected by any of our party, this spring. 



Family FRINGILLID.F,. Finches, etc. 



50. Carpodacus purpureas (Gm.) Gr. Rare. A single male seen by 

 Mr. Ingersoll, April 29. 



51. Chrysomitris tristis (L.) Bp. Common. On the Sth of May took 

 a male in full summer plumage, which is I think rather earlier than the 

 change is usually perfected at the north. 



52. Melospiza palustris (Wils.) Bd. Not common. A few individuals 

 were observed in the thickets along the creek. 



53. Melospiza melodia (Wils.) Bd. Common. Specimens taken aver- 

 age a little smaller than Massachusetts examples, and are very much 

 darker, the entire under parts being a strong ashy color, instead of white. 

 Although this peculiarity seemed constant in all the individuals observed, 

 I suspect that it is due at least in part, to the stain received from the 

 charred and blackened logs in the burnt clearings. 



Several other birds, especially the woodpeckers and nuthatches were 

 unmistakably disfigured in this way, and I took a Thryothorus Ludovida- 

 nus that was almost entirely black, with the markings but faintly discern- 

 ible beneath. 



54. Junco hyemalis (L.) Scl. Three or four specimens were observed 

 during the last days of April. 



55. Spisella socialis (Wils.) Bp. Very common. Found everywhere, 

 penetrating even quite deep into the woods. 



56. Spizella pusilla (Wils.) Bp. Not uncommon on the clearings on 

 the hillsides. 



57. Zonotrichia albicollis (Gm.) Bp. Extremely abundant during our 

 entire stay, in flocks, and evidently migrating. The males frequently 

 sang, but not so finely as when on their breeding grounds at the north. 



5S. Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forst.) Sw. A single specimen was ob- 

 served by Mr. Ingersoll, May 10th. 



59. Goniaphea ludoviciana (L.) Bowditch. Arrived May 1st, after 

 which date a few individuals were observed daily. Frequented the 

 woods. 



60. Cyanospiza ci/anea (L.) Bd. Not uncommon. Arrived May 8th. 



61. Cardinalis Virginianus (Brisson.) Bp. Very abundant. Their 

 most characteristic haunts seemed the thickets along fences and on the 

 edges of the woods and the more open ravines. The males usually sang 

 from some tree top overlooking their bushy retreat, which they were 

 always ready to dive into upon any alarm. The ordinary position of the 

 bird is a very erect one, with the tail lowered and the crest nearly always 



