FKlNiaLLlD.E — THK FINCIIE;?. 563 



Hab. From Wis<.'onsin and Illinois (also in Miciii<j^an and Ohio) to the Pacilio coast ; 

 Cape St. Luca.-J, south to Texas and Mexico. UaxaealScL. IH'>!>, :\7ii) ; Vera Cruz (winter, 

 Sl"M1C11KAST, O.V2); Eastern ^[assaehusetts, aeeidental (Maynai;i»). 



The colors of the feinah' are chiller tliaii in tlie male, tlie (^liestiiut less 

 brij^^ht, the black not so intense ; the }>attern, however, is the same. 



Tlie young bird has tlie lueast and 

 throat with a good many spots of dark 

 brown instead of the single large one 

 on the breast. The other markings are 

 more obscure. 



Habits. The Lark Finch is found 

 from Eastern Illinois to the Pacific, and 

 from Oregon to Texas. Within this wide 

 area of distribution it is everywhere 

 abundant in the open prairies and 

 plains. It is not hmnd in wooded re- 

 gions. This bird was described by Say, 

 and was nrst met with by Long s ex})e- 



dition to the Missouri lUver. It was not known to cither Wilson or Au- 

 dubon, and its habits were very imperfectly known to Xuttall. 



Mr. Dresser found this bird verv abundant in Texas throughout the sum- 

 mer, arriving in the neighborhood of San Antonio in March, and leaving 

 there early in October. He found their nests quite common, and usually 

 built in a mes(|uite tree or bush, of tine roots and grasses. Dr. Heermann 

 also found it abundant in Xew Mexico. In Arizona, Dr. Coues found it, 

 chiefly in spring and autumn, a migi-ant, and, at those seasons, very numer- 

 ous. Many remain during the summer to breed, and u few are found in the 

 whiter. It was met with near Xew Leon, Mexico, by Lieutenant Couch, but 

 was not obtained in Vera Cruz bv Sumiclirast. It was taken near Oaxaca, 

 ^lexico, by Mr. Boucard. A single specimen was obtained at Fort Dalles in 

 Oregon, by Dr. Suckley, but it was not met with l»v him west of the Cascade 

 Mountains. ^Ir. Townsend states that he also found it in that region. 



Dr. Cooper did not find this species in the Colorado Valley, thmigli it has 

 been obtained at Yoxl Yuma in December; and. as he has met with them in 

 large flocks in the valleys of San Diegn in February, he concludes that they 

 winter in the southern part of California. They breetl from San Diego 

 throughout California, and as far north as the (^olumbia, where they arrive 

 early in May. Dr. Cooper has never found their nest in California, but 

 has frequently met with it in Kansas and Xebraska in May and June. 

 He found them on the ground, and their nests were constructed chiefly of 

 grass. 



He speaks of them as singing very sweetly, and states that in their song 

 they resemlde the Canary more than any other bird. They fretiuent the 

 oi)en plains, usually in the neighborhood of trees, upon which they often 



