FUINGILLlDyE — THE FINCHES. ^*f 



In Mfissachusetts it is extremely rare. Mr. Hopkins found it breeding in 

 Williiuustown, and sent nie its eggs. I have also mot witli its nest and eggs, 

 in a low meadow near the sea, in llingham. In botli ol' these instances the 

 nest was on the gniiind. A specimen was sliot in Newton by Mr. .Tolm Thax- 

 ter, June 26, 1857, that had all the appearance of behig then in the process 

 of incubation. Tinoughout Pennsylvania, and in the vicinity of Washing- 

 ton, these birds arc ([uite common. 



Wilson states that tliey are very common in the vicinity of I'hiladelphia, 

 ■where they make tlieir appearance in the middle of May, and where they 

 seem to prefer level fields covercid with rye-grass, clover, or timothy. They 

 are described as more conspicuous for the quantity tlian lor tlie quality of 

 their song. Tliis consists of three notes, sounding like chijj-chip-che-rlie-che. 

 Of this unmusical ditty they are by no means parsimonious, and for nearly 

 three months after their first arrival, every level field of grain or grass re- 

 sounds with their quaint serenade. In their shai)e and numners, Wilson 

 states, they bear a close resemblance to the Emhcriza citrincUa of Euroj)e. 

 They become silent by September, and in the course of that month depart 

 for the southwest. It is a rare bird in South Carolina, but is very abundant 

 in Texas, where it is also resident, and undoubtedly breeds. Audubon states 

 that he was surprised to see liow numerous they were in every oi)en piece of 

 groun'i throughout that State, especially those covered with tufts of grivss. 

 They are, he states, not so common in Ohio, and quite rare in Kentucky. 

 Tliey are especially abundant in the open lands of Indiana, Illinois, Wiscon- 

 sin, Iowa, i^Iissouri, Kansas, and Nebraska ; and tliey have been found breed- 

 ing as far to the west as Wyoming Territory, near to the base of the eastern 

 range of tlie liocky Mountains. Mr. iVllen found this species one of the 

 most abiuulant birds of Western Iowa, characterizing it as eminently a prai- 

 rie species, and one of the few inhabitants of the wide open stretches. 



]Mr. Dresser found, early in May, numbers of these birds in the mesquite 

 tliickets near tlie San Antonio and Medina Rivers, and, as he found them 

 equally numerous tliere in July, he naturally infers that they breed in that 

 neighborhood. Dr. lleerniann obtained some eggs which he had no doubt 

 belonged to this s})ecies, though he was unable to secure the parent. 



It has also been found in Western Texas and in the Iiulian Territory by 

 Mr. J. H. Clark, in Texas by Dr. Lincecum, at the Kiowa agency by Dr. 

 Palmer, and on the Yellowstone ))y Dr. Hayden. 



This bird is not gregarious, alwfiys moving in pairs, and although, as they 

 are preparing for their migrations, they congregate in particular localities, 

 they always keep somewhat apart in family groups, and do not mingle pro- 

 miscuously as do many others of this family. They are, at all times, unsus- 

 picious and easily approached, and when fired at will often return to the 

 same field from which tiiey were startled. They are very partial to certain 

 localities, and are rarely to be met with in sandy regions. 



Mr. Audubon states that the notes of this species very closely resemble 



