( 19 ) 

 PRAIRIE FINCH. 



FrINGILLA BICOLOR, TowNSEND. 

 PLATE CCCXC. Male and Female. 



This species, of which there are in my possession several specimens, 

 presented to me by my friend Mr Nuttall, was discovered by that 

 zealous naturalist and his companion Dr Townsend on the plains of the 

 Platte, and briefly characterized in the Journal of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. From its general appearance, and 

 especially from what is known of its habits, I consider it closely allied 

 to the Rice Bunting, Emheriza oryzivora ; but as my object has always 

 been to describe oiu" birds, without caring much how they are named, 

 I here adopt the appellation given by its discoverers, the latter of whom 

 has favoured me with the following notice respecting it. 



" The Prairie Finch inhabits a portion of the Platte country, in large 

 flocks. It is strictly gregarious, and feeds upon the ground, along which 

 it runs like the Grass Finch, Fringilla graminea, to which it is some- 

 what allied. As the large flocks, consisting of from sixty to a hun- 

 dred individuals, were started from the ground by our caravan in pass- 

 ing, the piebald appearance of the males and females promiscuously in- 

 termingled, presented a curious, but by no means unpleasing, effect. 

 While the flock is engaged in feeding, the males are frequently obser- 

 ved to rise suddenly to a considerable height in the air, and poising 

 themselves over their companions, with their wings in constant and ra- 

 pid motion, they become nearly stationary. In this situation they 

 pour forth a number of very lively and sweetly modulated notes, and 

 at the expiration of about a minute descend to the ground, and course 

 about as before. I never observed this bird to the west of the Black 

 Hills." 



Mr NuTT all's notice respecting it is as follows : — " On the 24th 

 of May, soon after crossing the north branch of the Platte, we met with 

 this very interesting species of Fringilla. The males associated in 

 flocks with the Cow Birds, uttering a most delightful song. Towards 

 evening in particular, we sometimes saw them in all directions around 

 us on the hilly grounds, rising to a little height, hovering and flapping 



