OF NEW ENGLAND. 199 



built their nests. Although they were eminently terrestrial in 

 habits, and fed and nested on the ground, yet they not unfre- 

 quently alighted on the fences between the pastures, and by the 

 roadsides, or rarely on the telegraph-wires. They were very 

 nimble on the ground, often chasing the insects, which consti- 

 tuted their chief food ; and usually, when frightened from their 

 nests, they feigned lameness, and endeavored to lead one from 

 the spot, whereas the Bay-winged Buntings generally flew at 

 once to some near fence. Unlike these latter, they did not 

 often venture to the roads, except when, autumn drawing near, 

 they associated with the " Grass Finches," and followed their 

 habits more closely than during the breeding-season. In Sep 

 tember they seemed less numerous than in July, but wandered 

 much more freely over the country. 



In Massachusetts, a few stay until November, but a majority 

 pass to the southward earlier, and I have never known any to 

 spend the winter in New England. There is nothing very 

 characteristic in their flight, which is usually short and low. 

 They are often shy, and can never be closely approached when 

 on the ground, and though they sometimes feed in gardens 

 near houses or barns, they commonly prefer the more remote 

 fields, where civilization is not busy. 



(d). Their notes are interesting, as distinct from those of 

 other birds, and so far as I know, are appreciably like only 

 those of the Yellow-winged Sparrows. Besides a low chip (?) 

 they have a peculiar chirp, which one might reasonably attrib- 

 ute to some loud-voiced cricket or beetle, and which also bears 

 resemblance to the Night "Hawk's" ordinary cry. Their 

 song-notes are very characteristic, and are drawly but musical. 

 They nearly resemble the syllables chip-chirr, sometimes ex- 

 tended to chip-chee, chee-chee-chirr, or so varied as to be a song. 



In describing three common birds, frequently confused by 

 the ignorant or inexperienced, namely : the Savannah Finch, 

 the Bay-winged Bunting, and the Song Sparrow, I have en- 

 deavored to mark the characteristic differences so as to render 

 their identification a matter of no difficulty. These streaked 

 species, as well as their ground-nesting relations, are often 



