24-0 Poling on the Fringillidce of Western Illinois- [July 



9. Calcarius pictus. Smith's Longspur. — The Painted Longspur is a 

 regular spring and fall migrant through Illinois. It seems more plentiful 

 in the fall than in the spring, and its sojourn is usually more protracted. 

 I have found them on many occasions in the fall, from early October until 

 the middle of November. At such times they frequent stubble fields of 

 oats or wheat, which have been well grown up with short grass and 

 weeds. I have also found large flocks of them among the lowlands 

 about Lima Lake, where they lie closely in the short grass. This 

 species is seldom found associated with other birds. They often con- 

 gregate in large flocks of several hundreds, and when such a flock has 

 settled in good cover one may approach fairly into the midst of them 

 without becoming aware of their presence, until with one impulse all 

 will arise and, uttering their rapid, twittering notes, circle about high 

 in the air for some time, and perhaps fly far away, unless the intruder 

 remain concealed and quiet, when they will drop in again all about 

 him. During the migration one who is perfectly familiar with their 

 note may often observe flocks of them flying rapidly over at a great 

 height, often scarcely perceptible, and constantly uttering the notes, 

 but unless he should find their particular feeding ground, it would be use- 

 less to search for them. This is particularly the case in the spring, when 

 many flocks pass over, and should one alight and be disturbed, they sel- 

 dom return, but seem restless and anxious to complete their long journey. 



10. Poocaetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow. — Very common during 

 migrations, not often remaining to breed, though occasionally its pleas- 

 ing notes may be heard during the summer months. 



11. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna. Savanna Sparrow. — One 

 of our most common Sparrows in spring and fall, often associated with 

 other species of its genus as well as with the Song and Swamp Sparrows. 

 It frequents the uplands where it may usually ne found in stubble fields 

 and patches of swamp grass or weeds. 



12. Ammodramus savannarum passerinus. Grasshopper Sparrow. 

 — A common summer resident arriving by the middle of April, and fre- 

 quenting the clover fields, where its familiar subdued notes may be heard 

 throughout the spring and summer, as the bird sways in the breeze 

 from a weed top, or crouches upon a fence post. 



13. Ammodramus henslowii. Henslow's Sparrow. — Abundant 

 spring migrant, and not uncommon during the summer and fall, although 

 then less conspicuous from its quietness and more restricted haunts. The 

 migration takes place in April, and is at its height from the 15th until the 

 2<5th of that month. At this time the birds are in their best plumage, and 

 their habits may be most successfully studied. From dawn until two or 

 three hours after sunrise, while the dew still sparkles on the grass, they 

 will be found most active and full of life. In this locality they not only 

 frequent the marshes and bottom lands but are also found in upland 

 clover fields and fields of timothy, and in fact I have discovered them in 

 a great yariety of places, though their favorite haunts seem to be among 

 the dense growth of swamp grass of our bottomlands. I have known 



