FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



291 



3108 of the 



mmer and 



winter. Sint? Sing, tolerably common S. R., Apl. 2 to Nov. 4. Cumbridtro, 

 very common S. K., Apl. 5 to Oct. lo. 



Xtd, of rutlier course grass, lined with finer grasses, rootlets, and long 

 hairs, on the ground. AV/r/«, four to five, bluish white or pinkisli white, 

 ppeekled and spotted with rufous-brown or umber, 1'83 x ••;!. 



In walking through dry upland fields or along dusty roadsides a 

 ratlier pale, streaked Sparrow will soiiiotinies run rapidly ahead of 

 you, wait for you to catch up, then run ahead again. It is best to be 

 content with what measure of his confidence and society lie voluntarily 

 grants you, for, if you (juicken your steps and try to overtake him, he 

 will rise and bound on before you or swing off to one side, showing, as 

 he flies, the wliite feathers on either side of his tail. 



Frequently he will alight on a fence rail or even the higher branch 

 of a tree, for, although a field Sparrow, ho is by no means a purely ter- 

 restrial one. When singing, he generally selects an elevated perch and 

 gives himself entirely to his musical devotions. Early morning and 

 late afternoon are his favorite hours, but he can be heard at other 

 times. His song, which is loud, clear, and ringing, tnay be heard at 

 a distance of several hundred yards. It resembles that of the Song 

 Sparrow, but is sweeter and more plaintive. When heard in the even- 

 ing it is a truly inspired and inspiring melody. 



641. Anunodramusprinceps (^l/ay/^). Irswicn Spahkow. .id.— 

 Generally with a spot of sulpiuir-yellow before the eye and on the bend of 

 the wing ; upper parts pale brownish ashy, streaked on the head, back, and 

 upper tail-coverts with l)luek and cinnamon-brown; the nape and rump with 

 few or no streaks; a white line over the eye; wings grayisii brown, outer 

 webs of greater coverts and tertials margined with pale oehraeeous-butf ; tail 

 grayish brown, the outer webs of the feathers nmrgined with brownish ashy; 

 under parts white; breast and sides lightly streaked with blackisii and 

 ochraceous-burt". L., fi-Jo; W., 300; T., 2-25; B., -40. 



A'(<rtf/t'.— Breeds on Sable Island ; winters southward along the coast regu- 

 larly to Virginia and rarely to (ieorgia. 



Cambridge, casual, one instance, Oct. 



Those who care to visit in winter the bleak, wind swept sand 

 hillocks of our Atlantic coast will find this bird much less rare than 

 it was once supposed to be. It never strays fur from the wcving tufts 

 of course beach-grass that scatitily cover the sand drifts, and single in- 

 dividuals may be found skulking among such surroundings. They 

 seldom allow a near a[)proach, but fiy wildly away to considciiible dis- 

 tances, and on alighting run oflf so rapidly that they are dinicult to 

 find a second time. The flight is rapid and irregular, ami the birds 

 may easily be mistaken for Savanmi Sparrows, with which, during the 

 migrations, they are sometimes associated. On rare occasions a sharp 

 chirp is heard, but as a rule they are silent. 



