124 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [1891 



the summer until late in the fall, but it is not at all as abundant 

 during summer as it is in the spring, especially in April and the 

 greater part of May, the majority evidently go northward ; 

 Maryland and Virginia being about the southernmost breeding- 

 places. This species probably also winters here, since we have 

 obtained a specimen as late as the 6th of December. This, how- 

 ever, seems to have been an exceptional instance, as the species 

 has never been observed by us at a later date, although it has 

 been eagerly looked for, and this bird is easily enough observable 

 at any moderate distance. Grass and clover fields are its favor- 

 ite haunts, as also grassy sloping banks along railroads. It pre- 

 fers to keep to the ground and is hardly ever to be seen perched 

 on trees, but when exceptionally met with there, is never perched 

 at any great distance above the ground. 



Ammodromus savanarum passerinus ( Wils.). Grasshopper 

 Sparrow. 



Of our Sparrows proper, this is without doubt the least abund- 

 ant species. In fact, as far as the immediate vicinity of this 

 city is concerned, it can by no means be called an abundant 

 bird. It has been observed by us from May throughout sum- 

 mer until October, frequenting the fields and pastures, and run- 

 ning on the ground like the grass-sparrow. Now and then it 

 mounts a fence or some small bush, but it prefers to stay on the 

 ground. With regard to the name, it is better known as the 

 " Yellow-winged Sparrow," which has been used to designate it 

 by all the earlier ornithologists. 



Ammodromus maritimus (Wils.). Seaside Sparro'.v. 



This is the only species in the present list that I have not 

 observed alive. One specimen was collected some five or six years 

 ago on Miller's Island, by the late Mr. Wolle, Sr., at whose 

 house I had the opportunity to examine the bird before it was 

 mounted. As it was unknown to Mr. Wolle, who had handled 

 so many of our birds, I was led to the conclusion that it is a rare 

 visitor in this section of the country. 



