52 THE WILSON BULLETIN, No. 74. 
the empty fields, i.e. empty for us, but full for them, namely 
full of weed-seeds. They prefer the high wind-swept fields, 
and can often be seen flying to and fro, from one rise to an- 
other. Some days they are tame, allowing of close approach, 
on others they are extremely shy. Last spring, with its cold 
weather, they stayed at least till May 5, when I took several 
in nearly full nuptial dress. Usually they are gone before 
this, as I am told. They are difficult to see when on the 
ground, especially in their winter dress. The flocks seem to 
be made up of lapponcus mainly, although on April 20 I saw 
one Smith’s Longspur (C. pictus). Nearly every field con- 
tains one or several little flocks, of from five to twenty-five 
each, busily gleaning the weed seeds, of which their stom- 
achs and crops, when taken, are full to bursting. On their 
restless days, or when being scared up from several fields, the 
air is sometimes literally alive with them, when also flights 
of up to a hundred can be seen. Their flight is somewhat er- 
ratic, but nevertheless, as well as its call and flight notes, 
characteristically finch-like. Other members of the finch fam- 
ily are the White-throated, White-crowned, Fox, Lincoln’s 
and Tree Sparrows; also Juncos, most of which are, of course, 
only migrants. while the last two are to some degree winter 
residents. Thus, to-day (December 17), I saw a flock of 
Tree Sparrows, Juncos and Redpolls. Early in November, 
Pine Siskins were common here, and a few Pine Grosbeaks 
were seen, which, together with the fact that Evening Gros- 
beaks had been seen at several places in the neighborhood, 
makes me think that somewhat abnormal food or other con- 
ditions must be prevailing up north, to bring these hardy 
northern birds down here so early. 
