592 



BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



ited daily till the complemeDt was filled. They measure 0.62 in length 

 by 0.50 in breadth on an average. The ground-color is light dull green, 

 sparsely but distinctly speckled with some rich and other darker shades 

 of brown, these markings being chiefly confined to the larger end, or 

 wreathed about it, though there are often a few specks here and there 

 over the rest of the surface. From the earliness of the first sets of 

 eggs, I suppose that two broods may be reared each season. 



The Buntings were very numerous about Pembina, and during the 

 breeding-season became conspicuous from the habit of the males at this 

 season of mounting to the tops of the bushes and singing continually. 

 The song is simple, but voluble and earnest, as if the birds gave the 

 whole of their minds to it — as is doubtless the fact. It consists of three 

 notes and a trill. The song ceases with the end of the breeding-season, 

 when the birds retain nothing but their slight chirp. With its cessa- 

 tion, the characteristic breeding-habit of mounting the bushes is given 

 up, and the birds become less conspicuous, though really more numerous 

 than ever, from the accession of the new broods. They then go in little 

 troops, which haunt all the shrubbery and mix intimately with the other 

 Sparrows which frequent like situations. They are not, however, to be 

 found on the prairie at any considerable distance from woods or shrubby 

 undergrowth. As the season advanced, and during my progress west- 

 ward, I found them in equal abundance on Pembina and Turtle Mount- 

 ains and along the Mouse Eiver. 



The nest season none were noticed in the Upper Missouri country. 

 They cannot be so numerous in this region, for I could hardly have 

 overlooked them altogether. Nevertheless, they extend across the 

 country to the Eocky Mountains, as specimens were procured west of 

 the Sweetgrass Hills. 



List of specimens. 



2790 



2838 

 2856 

 2857 

 2858 

 2867 



2879 

 2880 

 2881 

 2882 

 2901 

 2902 

 2903 

 2904 

 2905 

 2906 

 2907 

 2908 

 2909 

 2930 



Locality. 



Pembina, Daik. 



...do 

 ...do 

 ...do 

 ...do 

 ...do 



...do . 



...do . 



...do. 



...do 



.. do 



...do 



...do 



...do 



...do 



...do 



...do 



...do 



...do 



...do 



Date. 



June 3,1873 



June 4, 1873 

 June 5, 1873 



do 



.... do 



do 



Juno 6,1873 



do 



do 



-..do 



June 7,1873 



do 



do 



do 



do 



do 



do 



do 



do 



June II, 1873 



Collector. 



Elliott Coues. 



....do 

 ....do 

 ....do 

 ...do 

 ....do 



....do . 



... do , 



....do. 



....do . 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



5.25 

 5.00 

 5.10 

 5.30 



5.40 

 5.50 

 5.40 

 5.20 

 5.25 

 5.30 

 5.20 

 5.50 

 5.20 

 5.30 

 5.50 

 5.30 

 5.50 



7.50 

 7.60 



7.70 

 8.00 

 7.70 

 7.40 

 7.75 

 7.50 

 7.60 

 7.70 

 7.40 

 7.90 

 7.70 

 7.80 

 7.90 



^^at^l^e of specimen, 

 and remarks. 



Skin ; contained 

 ejig ready for ex- 

 trusion. 



Skin. 

 ...do. 



..do. 

 ....do. 



Nost; parents 

 Nos. 2857, 2858. 



Skin. 

 ....do. 



...do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 



...do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 

 ....do. 



Nest, with 4 eggs. 



