504 NORTH AMEKKWX niRD.^. 



alij^dit ill Hocks. Their tood ('oiisists ot" tlit* seeds of gi-ass and other small 

 l>laiits, wliich they collect on tlie «;i'ouiid. 



A siii<;le specimen of this bird was shot in Massaihiisetts in 1845, by Mr. 

 Samuel Jillson. It was taken in (Gloucester, on the coast, where its appear- 

 ance was, of course, jnirely accidental. 



We are indebted to the careful observations of Mr. Ridgway for the prin- 

 cipal portion of our knowledge of the inannei-s and mode of life of this 

 species, which he has recently ascertained to be an abundant summer resi- 

 dent in Southern Illinois. It is probably ei|ually abundant throughout the 

 State, and is found as far east as (.)hio, where it becomes mre. 



The Prairie Lark-Finch was touiid by that accurate observer very abundant 

 at Sacramento, Cal., where it frequented alike the oak groves, the Cottonwood 

 and willow copses, and the weedy fields and meadows. At Sacr.imento it was 

 eminently arboreal, ([uite in contrast with its habits as observed in Illinois. It 

 was also met with in the interior, where\'er the locality was suited to it. Near 

 Salt Lake City it is one of the most numerous of the birds inhabiting the 

 artemisia grounds, in tlie outskirts of the town, in company with Poospiza 

 hUineata and Spizclla hirweri. It is called by the Utah boys the Snake-Bird, 

 from the supposed resemblance of its striped head to that of a snake. At 

 Sacramento it is greatly prized as a cage-bird, and young birds readily sell 

 there for four dollars a pair. He states that the delightful song of this bird 

 has no parallel among the North American Fringillida:, and claims that in 

 this respect it is pre-eminently superior to that of all the other membei'S of 

 this family. As it perches upon the summit of a small tree, on the telegraph 

 wire, or upon a fence, its notes may l)e heard throughout the day, in the 

 morning before those of any otliers, and late in the evening, when all except 

 for this irrepressible songster is silence 



The song of this species is described as composed of regularly divided 

 parts, almost perfect in compass, in vigor and continuity unsurpassed, if not 

 unequalled, by any other North American species. It begins with a series 

 of chants, the style reminding one somewhat of the Cjfanmpiza cyama, but 

 each syllable loud, rich, and clear, and uttered witli a peculiar emotional trill, 

 the whole seemintrlv delivered in a hurried manner, in one continuous cush 

 of sprightly silvery notes, each accompanied by a metallic tremolo. As if 

 exhausted, the singer falters, and the notes become scarcely audible, then 

 suddenly reviving, as if in great joy, the song is resumed in all its vivacity, 

 until the bird at last really appears to be overcome by its eflbrts. 



Dr. Coues met with this species in Arizona in the winter. He writes me 

 as follows : " The most eastern point where I observed this species -svas at 

 St. Louis, Mo. I saw a good many in the suburbs of that city in May, 1865. 

 It is one of the most abundant Sparrows about Fort Whipple, particularly 

 during the migrations ; the ma.jority pass northward in April and May, but 

 many breed in the vicinity, and some pass the winter in sheltered situations. 

 It is generally seen in companies, frequenting the skirts of woods, the under- 



