FI!I\r;iI,I,II).K — TIIK I'lXClIIX 111 



Miiy, and lu'i^'iiis to sit iiiioii tlio ej,';49 about the first of June. It is Hli},'litly 

 gn!^'iiri()U.s just iw it is pivimring tu leave, but at all Dtiiur times is to bo luut 

 with only in solitary ]iairs. 



TheCJiduud lloliin is in many respects one of the most stron<,'ly charaeter- 

 izcd of our Nortii American birds, exhibiting peculiarities in which all the 

 members of this genus slmre to a very large degree. They frciiiu'nt clo.se and 

 slieltereil thickets, wlu-re they spend a large proportion of their time on tlie 

 ground among the fallen leaves, scratching and .searching for worms, larvie, 

 and insects. Though generally resilient in retired localitie.i, it is far from 

 being a .shy or timid bird. I have known it to show itself in a front yard, 

 immediately under the windows of a dwelling and near the main street of 

 the village, whore for hours I witnessed its diligent labors in .search of food. 

 The spot was very shady, and unfre([uented during the greater part of the 

 day. It was not disturbed when the mendiers of the family jtassed in or out. 



The call-note of this bird is very peculiar, and is variously interpreted in 

 difierent localities. It has always ap])eared to me that the Georgian jo-reet 

 was at least as near to its real notes as tuw-hee. Its song consists of a few 

 simple notes, which very few realize are those of this bird. In singing, the 

 male is usually to be .seen on the top of some low tree. These notes are 

 nttered in a loud voice, and are not unmusical. .Wilson says its song resem- 

 bles that of the Yellow-Hannner of Eur()])e, but is more varied and mellow. 

 Nuttall speaks of its notes as simple, guttural, and monotonous, and of its 

 voice as clear and .sonorous. Tiie song, which he speaks of as ipuiint and 

 somewhat pensive, he descriljos as sounding like t's/id-wXtvc-lS-tS-f^-tS-tS. 



Wilson says this bird is known in rennsylvania as the " Swami) I'obin." 

 If so, this is a misnomer. In Xew England it lias no predilection for low 

 or moist ground, and I have never found it in sucii situations. Its favorite 

 haunts are dry njilands, near the edges of woods, or high tracts covered with 

 a low bru.shwood, selecting for nesting-places the outer skirts of a wood, 

 especially one of a southern aspect. The nest is sunk in a dejircssion in 

 the ground, the ujiper edges being usually just level with the ground, it is 

 largely composed of dry leaves and coaree •■■terns as a base, within wliicli is 

 built a firmer nest of dry bents well a:Tange).', usually with no other lining. 

 It is generally partially concealed by leaves c a tuft of grass, and is not 

 easily discovered unless the female is seen about it. 



Dr. Coues says these Buntings are chiel!y spring and nntunmal visitants 

 near Washington, only a lew breeding. Tliey are very abundant from April 

 25 to May 10, and from the first to the third week of October, and are 

 partially gregarious. Their migrations are nuuve by day, and are usually in 

 small companies in the fall, but singly in the spring. Wilson found them in 

 the middle districts of Virginia, and from thence .souih to Florida, during 

 the months of January, February, and March. Their usual food is obtained 

 among the dry leaves, though they also feed on hard seeds and gravel. They 

 are not known to commit any depredations upon harvests. They may be 



