) THE O. & O. SEMI-ANNUAL. 
Suffice it to say, that we were thoroughly drenched before reaching 
home. It didn’t rain ; just simply poured ; but notwithstanding this, 
we were content and thoroughly satisfied with our days work. 
To be sure Herriford felt somewhat sore, or like Pete Jones, “all 
shuck up like,” yet it was all in the interest of science, and therefore 
did not count. 
Returning to this lake in June, ’88, I found the breeding grounds 
of the coots covered with eight feet of water, and not a single bird of 
this species to be found anywhere in the lake region. 
THE YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW. 
Coturniculus passerinus. 
BY LYNDS JONES, GRINNELL, IOWA. 
In the recollection of my earliest ornithological efforts, Yellow- 
winged Sparrow bears a prominent part. Then, when the country 
was quite new, and one might roam unhindered for miles, the short, 
native prairie grass afforded a much better nesting place than does 
the close-cropped blue-grass of to-day. 
When the prairies were emerging from the native to the present 
state, by the breaking up and seeding down of large tracts, they were 
at their usefulness to the sparrows. These fields, unpastured during 
the first year, abounded with sparrows, especially the Yellow-wing, 
whose nests, made almost wholly of grass and sunken an inch or more 
into the ground, could be found on hillsides, hilltops or in the bot- 
tom-lands. Early in the season the nests were prettily arched over; 
but later this artistic flourish was omitted, and the time thus occupied 
was spent in depositing the eggs. 
Prior to this period, the thistles, scattered here and there over the 
land, were much resorted to as nesting sites. Almost every alternate 
thistle afforded protection to the nest and eggs of Yellow-wing. Now 
the birds are fewer and never resort to the thistles; why, I do not 
know. ‘The low-lands seem to be their favorite nesting- places, though 
occasionally a nest is found on the hillside and even hilltop. Strange 
as it may seem they have almost abandoned such neglected fields as 
