244 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



the black or dusky legs of lapponicus and the yellow of pictus, and 

 perhaps by the more dusky upper mandibles of the latter." (Hist. 

 N. Am. B.) 



Like the Lapland Longspur, this species is only a winter visitor 

 to Illinois. It is by no means so generally distributed as that 

 species, its migrations being almost wholly confined to the open 

 prairie districts. 



"Mr. Audubon, in company with Mr. Harris and Mr. Bell, ob- 

 tained specimens of these birds near Edwardsville, and described 

 them as a new species [Plectrophanes smitkii]. Mr. Bell states, in 

 regard to these birds, that he found them very abundant on the low 

 prairie near a lake, a few miles from Edwardsville. They were 

 generally in large flocks, and when once on the ground they began 

 to separate. They ran very nimbly, in a manner resembling that 

 of the Grass Finch, and when they arose, which they rarely did 

 unless they were nearly approached, they uttered a sharp click, 

 repeated several times in quick succession, and moved with an easy 

 undulating motion for a short distance and then alighted very sud- 

 denly, seeming to fall perpendicularly several feet to the ground. 

 They preferred the roots where the grass was shortest. When in 

 the air they flew in circles, to and fro, for a few minutes, and then 

 alighted, keeping up a constant chirping or call, somewhat like that 

 of the Red-Poll." (BREWER.) 



Mr. Nelson records the following regarding his observations on 

 this species in the northwestern portions of the State : 



"Common migrant. March 30, 1875, near Calumet Lake, I found 

 a flock containing about seventy-five individuals of this species. 

 Their habits are quite similar to those of P. lapponicus while upon 

 the ground, except that while the latter species preferred the wet 

 portions of the prairie, the former were found only about the higher 

 portions. When flushed they invariably uttered a sharp clicking 

 note, rapidly repeated several times. When driven from their feed- 

 ing place by my approach, they would rise, in a loose flock, and 

 after wheeling about a few times start off in a direct line, gradually 

 rising higher until they disappeared. After a short time their 

 peculiar note would be heard, and darting down from a considerable 

 height they would alight near the place from which they were 

 driven. Although the flocks of P. pictus and P. lapponicus often be- 

 came mingled while flying over the prairie, I did not see them 

 alight together." 



