FHINOILLIDJ'; — TllH FINCIIliti. 5G3 



Haii. From Wisconsin nnil Illinois (also in Micliigan and Oliio) to the Pacific coast; 

 Cape 8t. Tineas, soutli to Texas anil Mi'xifd. Uaxaca (Sn,. 18.')!», .'!7!)) ; Vera Ci'n/ (winter, 

 SuMicnuAST, iVyj); Kiislern Massaclinsetls, aceiilental (Mavxaimi). 



The colors of the loinalo are duller than in the male, the chestnut less 

 lu'ijiht, the hlack not so intense ; the pattern, however, is the same. 



The young bird has tlie Ineast and 

 throat with a good many spots of dark 

 brown instead ol' the single large one 

 on the breast. The other markings are 

 more obscure. 



IIauith. The Lark Finch is i'mnul 

 from Eastern Illinois to the racific, and 

 from Oregon to Texas. Within this wide 

 area of distribution it is everywhere 

 abundant in the open prairies and 

 plains. It is not found in wooded re- 

 gions. This bird was described by >Say, 

 and was first met with by Longs expe- 

 dition to the Missouri Itiver. It was not known to either Wilson or Au- 

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



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

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

 there early in October. He found their iiest.^ quite conuiion, and u.-^tially 

 built in a mes(ptite tree or bush, of Hue roots and grasses. ')r. Heermann 

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

 chiefly in .spring and autunni, a migrant, and, at those seiisons, \i'ry mimer- 

 ous. Many remain during the .summer to In-eed, and a fiw are found in the 

 winter. It was met with near New Leon, Mexico, In- Lieutenant Couch, but 

 was not obtained in ^'era Cruz by Sumichrast. It was taken near Oiixaca, 

 Mexico, by ^Ir. Boucaid. A single s]iecimen was obtained al Kort Dalles in 

 Oregon, by Dr. Suckley, but it was not met with 1»v him west of the (.'ascade 

 Mountains. Mr. Townsend states that he also found it in that region. 



Dr. Cooper did not find this species in the Colorado ValL'v, tlnmgh it has 

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

 large flocks in the valleys of San Diego in Febrnsiry, he concbi(h's that they 

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

 throughout California, and as far north as the Columbia, where they arrive 

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

 has frtiquently met with it in Kansas and Nebraska in May ami 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 resendde the Canary more than any other bird. They freiiuent the 

 open ])lains, usually in the neighborhood of trees, u]Min which they often 



