148 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



south, and only occasi ^nal flocks remain to eke out a scanty living 

 in the snow. Always lively and chatty, the juncoes are a delight J:o 

 the regular pedestrian. 



Tree Sparrow 

 Spizella monticola 

 This species is probably the latest arrival of the northern mig- 

 rants. Similar in plumage and in call-notes to the Field Sparrow, 

 the Tree Sparrow comes to our latitude about the time the former 

 leaves us. For this reason it is not easy to be always sure which 

 species you may find at this particular season. Another drawback 

 in the matter of indentifying the Tree Sparrow, is its scarcity at 

 the time it first appears. 



Purple Finch 

 Carpodams purpurens 

 Late in autumn and in mild winters Purple Finches may be 

 found in small flocks feeding on weed seeds. They loose their 

 bright spring plumage before November, and are then difl&cult to 

 distinguish from the English Sparrow. No longer is their sweet 

 strain heard, but by a characteristic call-note, when known to the 

 observer, is the easiest way of indentifying the species. 



Notes on Variation in Chicory. 



N. M. Grier, Ph. D. 



Chicory, {Cichorim Iniyhus, L.), has appeared in this section 

 of the Shenandoah Valley -within the past few years. Recently the 

 writer has had opportunity to observe its variation, especially with 

 regard to floral structures. 



Flowers. Of the 412 specimens examined from various localities 

 and the frequency of whose rays were plotted, those with 14 were 

 found to be most numerous with a total of 76 cases. The curve 

 of variation based on the data obtained was remarkable normal and 

 free from 'skewness' in every respect. Minor modes were obtained 

 for 13 rays in 64 cases at 15 in 65 cases. The least number of rays 

 found was six, the greatest 22. 



It appeared that as a whole, the rays were most numerous on 

 heads obtained where the exposure was an open one, such as the 



