FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



315 



^est, .similiir to tliat of P. cynnea, in busliprt or low trees. E(j<jk, tlireo to 

 four, white or bluish white, witJi uuiuerous chestnut or rutbus-bruwn iiiurk- 

 ingH, "78 X •56. 



Mr. Maynard found this species in southern Florida in January, but 

 it does not migrate northward until about May 1. lie writes that it 

 "is always shy and retiring, seldom appearing in the ojjen, but remain- 

 ing in the dense, thorny undergrowth which covers all waste places in 

 Florida, especially if the soil has l)een cultivated. Whenever the birds 

 perceive an intruder they retire into the depths of these fastnesses, aiul 

 it requires consideral)le beating to drive them out. when they at once 

 dart into the nearest cover. The adult nuiles are especially shy, and 

 seldom show themselves. Even while singing they remained concealed, 

 and, although we were thus furnished with a clew to their whereabouts, 

 it was with the utmost ditliculty that we caught sight of the authors 

 of tiie harmonious strains which nearly always greeted our ears when 

 we were in the vicinity of their homes" (Birds of Eastern North 

 America.) 



"Their notes very much resemble those of the Tndigo-bird. but 

 lack their energy and are more feeble and concise" (B., B., and K.). 



The Gkapsqiit {CO,^. Eucthda hicolor) and the MEi.oDiorra Gkassqi'IT 

 {603.1. /;'. caz/rt/'a). West Indian species, hiivo each l)een recurdctl on<'e from 

 the Florida Keys. 



604t Spiza americana {(iwel.). DirK(issHt.; Black-thkoated 

 l?rNTi\(i. All. (J .-Head and .sides of tiie neck ashy gray ; forehead tinged 

 with yellow ; a yellow line over the 

 eye and one on the side of the 

 tiiroat; a black patch on the throat; 

 chin white; breast yellow. s]ircad- 

 ing down on to tlie white l>elly ; 

 back streaked with black and pale 

 grayish lirown ; rump brownish 

 asli ; lesser wing-coverts rufous ; 

 wint's aiul t '.il fuscous. Ad. 9 . — 

 Similar, but the head grayish 

 brown, streaked with blackish, and 

 with no black jnitch on the throat 

 and less yellow on the breast, which is sometimes lightly .xtreaked with 

 black. Ad. in /nil.— Much brighter, and with some rufous in the back. L., 

 6-00; \V., 3-20 ; T., 2-35; B., -.V). 



A'rt«f/<?.— Eastern United States, mostly in the Mississippi Valley; i)reeds 

 from Texas to Minnesota; winters in Central and South America ; breedn 

 east of the Allcghanies now oidy rarely and locally. 



Washington, very rare S. K., a few seen each year; formerly '' very abun- 

 dant." Cambridge, casual, found nesting at Medford, June 9, 1877, where 



Fio. 88.— Dickcissel. (Natural size.) 



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 1 w. 



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