On Birds observed in Amelia County, Virginia. 77 



I have noted was the 23rd of October. They are by far the 

 most numerous of the small birds in winter, hundreds of them 

 being often seen together. They generally begin to leave again 

 in March, but an occasional straggler will sometimes remain until 

 late in April. Two or three cold nights will sometimes bring 

 back a few, when none have been seen for a week or more. I 

 once noticed three on the 20th of April, and in another year, a 

 solitary individual on the 23rd of that month. They must not 

 be confounded with the Snow-bunting, Avhich is known in Canada 

 as the Snow-bird. 



Spizella monticola (Baird.) American Tree-Sparroiv. — A 

 rather uncommon winter visitor. I have taken it first on the 7th 

 of December. Like all the species of the genus Spizella it shows, 

 when in the district, no partiality for the farm-yard, but prefers 

 trees and bushes in the open fields, or along the margins of woods. 



Spizella pjsilla (Bonap.) Field Sparroiu. — It remains all 

 the year, but seems most numerous in winter, when it congregates 

 in little flocks of from ten to twenty. After a few very cold days 

 their numbers always seem to increase, as if they had been re- 

 inforced by a partial migration from further north. Thev are 

 chiefly met with on the bushes in the open fields, or alono- the 

 road side. 



Spizella socialis (Bonap.) Chipping Sp>arrow.— This little 

 sparrow arrives in flocks late in March, and in a few days after 

 its first appearance it becomes very plentiful. The earliest note 

 I have of its arrival is the 23rd of March. The males fight 

 incessantly in the most determined manner, screaming and 

 twittering most viciously, three or four battles being often carried 

 on together close to each other, and they are so engrossed in 

 their occupation, that one might almost take them in one's hand ; 

 they fly up and down, and tumble over each other, and I once 

 found one so exhausted that he was unable to fly. On catching 

 him, I saw that he had all the feathers pulled off his forehead, 

 and all his remaining tail feathers broken. 



It is a great fly catcher, and I have seen it capture, and pick 



to pieces, even large beetles. Its song consists of only one tone 



—the same note repeated slowly three times, followed by a long 



rapid trill. 

 SciEN. Pnoc, R.DS. Vol. ni., Pt. III. H 



