PASSERES— FRINGILLIDAE— CHONDESTES GRAMMACA. 259 



CHONDESTES GRAMMACA (Say). 

 Lark Finch. 



Fringilla grammaca, Say, Long's Exp. Rocky Mts., i, 1823, 139. 



Chondestes grammaca, Woodh., Sitgreave's Exp. Zuui & Col. Biv., 1851, 8C. — Bd., 

 Ives' Col. Exped., 1857-58, pt. iv, 0.— Id., Birds N. A., 1858, 45G.— Id., U. 

 S. & Mex. Bouud. Surv., ii, pt. ii, 1S59, Birds, 15.— Id., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sei. 

 Phila., 1S59, 304 (Cape Saint Lucas).— Xantus, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila., 

 1859, 191 (Fort Tejon, Cal.).— Heeem., P. R. E. Rep., x, pt. iv, 1S59, 48.— 

 Heney, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sei. Phila., 1859, 107 (New Mexico).— Coop. & 

 Suckl., P. R, Rep., xii, pt. ii, 1SG0, 200.— Hayd., Trans. Am. Phil. Soc, 

 xii, 1802, 100.— Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1800, S4 (Fort Whipple, 

 Ariz.).— Id., ib., 1808, S3. — Coopee, Birds Cal., i, 1870, 113.— Stev., U. S. 

 Geol. Surv. Terr., 1870, 404.— Allen', Bull. Mus. Couip. Zoo!., 1872, 177.— 

 Coues, Key N. A. Birds, 1872, 140, f. 90.— Snow, Birds Kan., 1S72, 10.— 

 Holdex, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1872, 201.— Meeriam, U. S. Geol. 

 Surv. Terr., 1872, GS0.— Bd., Brew., & Ridg., N. A. Birds, i, 1874, 5G2, pi. 

 xxxi, f. 1. — Yarrow & Hexshaw, Rep. Orn. Specs., 1S72, Wheeler's Exped., 

 1S74, 15. — Hexshaw, An. Lye Nat. Ilist. N. Y., xi, 1874, 5.— Id., An. List 

 Birds Utah, 1872, Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 44. — Id., Rep. Oru. Specs., 1873, 

 Wheeler's Exped., 1874, 01. — Allen, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., June, 

 1S74, 15, IS, 28.— Coues, Birds Northwest, 1874, 159. 



The Lark Finch has been obtained at many localities by our parties, 

 but has been met with more frequently and in greater numbers in Utah 

 and Colorado than in the more southern portions of its habitat in Arizona 

 and New Mexico, where, however, the species is by no means wanting. Its 

 habits seem to vary somewhat in different localities. In Utah, it appeared 

 particularly terrestrial in its habits ; and at Provo I remember that the dusty 

 by-ways just outside the town were favorite places of resort, the birds gath- 

 ering thither in small parties, and busying themselves apparently very suc- 

 cessfully in searching for food. This was in the latter part of July, and 

 the males were without song, and very shy, and careful to avoid all scrutiny. 

 Near Denver, in earlv May, these birds were qttite common in small com- 

 panies along the banks of the Platte River, where they frequented the trees 

 and bushes quite as much as the more open ground. They appeared then 

 to be mating, and I often saw several males in pursuit of some female, 

 whose charms had proved sufficient to awaken the tender passion in the 

 breasts of a number of emulous admirers. Its warbling song at this season 

 is not excelled by any of its tribe, if, indeed, it is equaled. 



