i8S8.] Chapman on Birds, observed at Gainesville. Florida. 



273 



sexes being generally in separate flocks; the males frequenting the pines, 

 the females open fields; but in the vicinity of water both sexes were 

 associated. A nest containing four eggs was found May 6. 



87. Sturnella magna mexicana. Mexican Meadowlark. — Abundant. 

 Comparison will not permit me to refer the small, dark Meadowlark. 

 resident in Florida, to Sturnella magna, and while they are not fully typ- 

 ical of 5. m. mexicana, they approach it so closely as to apparently render 

 subspecific separation impossible. Florida birds are perhaps slightly 

 darker above, the neck gorget is somewhat wider, and the yellow of the 

 undcrparts has more of a sulphur tint than in Mexican specimens, bnt in 

 measurements, as the appended table shows, there is little, if any, differ- 

 ence in birds from the two regions. 



Florida specimens 



Mexicana 



Florida specimens 

 Mexicana 



<o 



I.Ob 



1. 17 



88. Icterus galbula. Baltimore Oriole. — A male was taken De- 

 cember 15, and on February 4 a second was seen and heard calling among 

 the blossoms of the cypress. 



89. Icterus spurius. Orchard Oriole. — A rare summer resident. 



90. Scolecophagus carolinus. Rusty Blackbird. — A common winter 

 resident. Last seen April 14. 



91. Quiscalus quiscula aglaeus. Florida Grackle. — Common only 

 in the city w^here there were a number of flocks, all very tame. 



92. Quiscalus major. Boat-tailed Grackle. — Abundant. On one 

 occasion a number were noticed jumping from the ground at passing 

 insects. A singular note of this species greatly resembles the flapping of 

 wings, as of a Coot tripping over the water; this sound was very familiar 

 to me, but so excellent is the imitation that for a long time I attributed 

 it to one of the numerous Coots which abound in most places favored by 

 .^. major. 



93. Carpodacus purpureas. Purple Finch. — Rather rare during the 

 winter of 1S86-87, but not uncommon the following year. 



94. Spinus tristis. American Goldfinch. — Common in small flocks 

 up to April 15. 



95. Poocaetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow. — Very abundant. Last 

 noted April 9. 



96. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna. Savanna Sparrow. — 

 Even more abundant than the preceding. My last record was May 6. 



97. Ammodramus savannarumpasserinus. Grasshopper Sparrow. — 

 Common. 



