1 68 LooMis on Birds of Chester County, Soatli Carolina, [April 



adventurous scouts sometimes arrive as early as February. From the 

 first coming of the bulk in April, onward into September, they are very 

 common ; afterwards there is a diminution in their forces, and toward 

 the close of October only stragglers are to be found, which sometimes 

 lino^er on into November. My dates for the first two winter months are 

 Dec. 5, 14, 1S85; Jan. 22, 1S87 ; Dec. 25, 1SS9; Jan. 2, 1S90. The song 

 period lasts without interruption for about five months. 



151. Ammodramus leconteii. Leconte's Sparrow. — The statement 

 in my second list, that Leconte's Sparrows were common "winter resi- 

 dents," was fully borne out from the time of their discovery in November, 

 1S81, to the close of the season of 1S84-85. Since then they have 

 been almost wholly absent. In the two winters immediately following 

 not a single example rewarded my search. Individuals were captured 

 March 2 and 3, 1888; Dec. 25, 1888; Dec. 19, 1S89. Except one other, seen 

 Dec. 21;, 1889, these were all that fell under my observation during this 

 interval. Explanation of their absence is to be sought, I think, not in 

 their failure to journey southward, but in the transposition of the local 

 centre of abundance to some other quarter not far remote. The weather 

 can hardly be said to have exerted a governing influence over their move- 

 ments, for the meteorological conditions in these years have varied greatly, 

 ana seasons have been not unlike those during the periods of greatest 

 abundance. The presence of the two in March, 1S88, is significant. The 

 distribution of these Sparrows, hereabouts, appears to be very restricted. 

 I have thus far discovered them only in a narrow stretch of country, 

 about three miles in length, lying east of the town. The earliest record 

 I have is Nov. 11, iSSi, and the latest March 30, 1885. The average dura- 

 tion of their sta^', so far as ascertained, in the years of abundance was 

 above four months. 



188. Peucaea aestivalis bachmanii. Bachman'.s Sparrow. — It is only 

 of recent years that I have become aware of the existence of this species 

 in this locality. As so much time has been devoted of late to other fields 

 during summer, I am not able to throw much light upon its abundance 

 or upon the times of its arrival and departure. It appears, however, to 

 be a regular visitant, coming soon in the spring and spending the breed- 

 ing season. Marcii 21, 18SS, is the earliest date of its appearance I have 

 memorandum of. 



153. Habia ludoviciana. Rose-breasteu Grosbeak. — In fall Rose- 

 breasted Grosbeaks are apparently of but casual occurrence. In spring 

 they visit us regularly, the first males arriving shortly after the 15th of 

 April. Loiterers tarry behind until about the middle of May. In some 

 years they are decidedly common. They are found singly and in small 

 companies. My previous assertion as to their partiality for high ground 

 does not hold good. If latest experiences were taken as a criterion, the 

 contrary rather would be found to be true. On their northward journey 

 they are inclined to be musical. 



152. Spiza americana. Dickclssel. — I entered this Finch as a ''sum- 

 mer resident" in the second list on the strength of its having been ob- 



