bachman's sparrow. • 327 



In 1894 Dr. Jonathan Dwight, Jr., visited Sable Island, off Nova 

 Scotia, and obtained several nests of this species with sets of eggs. 

 His monograph, issued as a memoir of the Nuttall Ornithological 

 Club, contains the only account that has been published of the 

 habits of the bird, and from that paper I have taken the description 

 of the nest and eggs given above. 



Dr. Dwight describes these birds as tamer than they appear 

 when on the migrations, yet they were so retiring he could not learn 

 much of their " domestic affairs." The song, he says, is similar 

 to that of the Savanna Sparrow, but is " a more polished and 

 tuneful affair." 



BACHMAN'S SPARROW. 



SUMMER FINCH. 

 PeUC^EA ^STrV'ALIS BACHMANII. 



Char. Above, rufous streaked with black and ash; lines over the 

 eyes ash ; edge of wing yellow ; below, buff, sides shaded with ash, breast 

 with brown. Length 6X inches. 



A^est. In open grassy woodland, half-cleared field, or old meadow ; 

 placed on the ground ; made of dry grass or mixed with roots ; sometimes 

 the top is roofed, the entrance at the side. 



■Eggs. 4-5 ; white ; 0.75 X 0.60. 



This interesting species was first made known to Audubon 

 by Dr. Bachman, who found it near the Edisto River, and 

 afterwards breeding in the vicinity of Charleston, South Caro- 

 lina, in the pine barrens. The discoverer remarks of this 

 bird : " When I first heard its notes they so nearly resembled 

 those of the Towee Bunting that! took it to be that bird. As 

 soon as it is seen in the tall pine-trees where it usually sits to 

 warble out its melodious notes, it darts down and conceals 

 itself in the rank grass, through which it runs off like a mouse, 

 and is flushed with difificulty." It is believed to breed on the 

 ground. It is said to be the finest songster of the Sparrow 

 family in the United States. Its notes are loud for the size of 

 the bird, and heard nearly alone in the region it frequents. 

 About the month of November it proceeds to migrate farther 

 south, though a few stragglers still remain throughout the 

 winter. According to Latham, its nest is usually on the ground 

 among the grass, under small bushes ; it is composed of dry 



