FRINGILLID.K — THE FINC1IE8. 35 



wintry months, to high nurthern hititiules, where some find their way in the 

 breeihng-seiisou, extending as i'ar to tlie west at least as the Missouri Itiver 

 region. 



I'iiree specimens were obtained at Fort Simpson, by Mr. Keiiuicott, in Sep- 

 tember, whicli intUeates their probable summer jiresence in hititude '1')°, and 

 their near approach to the racitie coast at tiie extreme northwestern ]i(jrtion 

 of their distribution. Audubon also met with them in Niwl'oiuidland and 

 in Labrador. They are known to breed as far to the south as Tennsyl- 

 vania. They have been taken in the eastern jiortion of Nebra.ska, and breed 

 in consiileralile numbers in Southern Wisconsin. Further investigations in 

 regard to its distribution will probably show it to be a much more widely dis- 

 tributed as well as a more abundant bird than Iut- been generally su]»posed. 



Mr. Ividgway writes me that this bird winters in Southern Illinois, and 

 remains there very late in the spring, but he thinks that none remain to 

 breed. 



Wilson states that it arrives in Penn.sylvania early in April, where it fre- 

 (pients low grounds and river-courses, rears two and sometimes three broods 

 in a season, and returns to the South as the cold weather commences. Dur- 

 ing the winter, he met with them in large numbers in the innnen.se cyi)ress 

 ewamps and extensive grassy flats of the Southern States, along the numer- 

 ous rivers and rice plantations. These places abounded with their favorite 

 seeds and other means of sustenance, and appeared to be their general 

 places of resort at this season. From the river Trent, in North Carolina, to 

 the Savannah Itiver, and even farther south, Wilson found this species very 

 numerous. They were not found in Hocks, but skulked among the reeds 

 and grass, were shy and timorous, and seemed more attached to the water 

 than any others of this family. In Ajiril large nundjers pass through Penn- 

 sylvania northward. Only a few remain behind, and the.se frequent the 

 swamps and the reedy borders of creeks and rivers, lie found their nests 

 built in the ground, in tussocks of rank grass, suri'ounded by water, with 

 four eggs of a dirty-white ground, spotted with ruibus. He has found them 

 feeding their young as late as llie 15tl; of August. Their food seemed to be 

 principally gmss-seeds, wild oats, and insects. He supjwsed them to have 

 no song, and that their only note was a single clucp uttered in a somewhat 

 hoarse tone, 'ihey flirt (heir tails as they Hy, seldom or uev c take to trees, 

 but run and skulk from one low bush to another. ^ 



Excei)t in regard to their song, Wilson's account of their habits, so far as it 

 goes, is quite accurate, although this bird really does have quite a respectable 

 song, and one that improves as the season advances. At first it is only a 

 succession or repetition of a few monotonous trilling notes, which might 

 easily be mistaken for the song of the Field Sparrow, or even confounded 

 with the feebler chant of the sorialia, although not so varied as the former, 

 and is much more sprightly and pleasing than the other. Still later its 

 music improves, and more effort is made. Like the Soug Sparrow, it 



