28G ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



Mexican border. At Camp Grant, the most northern locality at which it was 

 detected, only a single young bird was taken, which, however, would seem 

 to establish the fact of the species breeding here. From the succeeding 

 species, it differs entirely in choice of habitat, habits, and especially in the 

 song, which are wholly dissimilar in their character. Instead of frequenting 

 the open plains, this bird finds its home in the valleys, where it keeps 

 among the rank, high grass, or in the dense willow thickets, always in close 

 proximity to water. In habits, it is quite exclusively terrestrial, and most of 

 those I saw were started from the ground, where, wholly concealed by the 

 vegetation, they were hunting among the roots for food. When started, 

 they rose in an unwilling, half hesitating sort of way, and, though when 

 once fairly off they flew quite swiftly, usually terminated their flight after a 

 lew yards by dropping suddenly into the covert, and then, to render them- 

 selves still more secure, generally ran a short distance, and remained close 

 till fairly trodden upon. Specimens could thus only be had by being shot 

 on the wing, not always, it may be remarked, the easiest thing in the world 

 to do. 



Their singing was always accomplished from the top of some con- 

 venient bush, which the male sought for this purpose, and from which, 

 after a few repetitions of his simple lay, he usually made an abrupt dive 

 into the grass, as though fearful of being caught by some one in the very 

 act. The song begins with a faint trill, followed by a succession of disjointed 

 syllables, which may be expressed by the syllables cha, chewee, wee, wee, 

 wee, wir, the whole delivered in rather a monotonous, listless manner, 

 and remarkable for little else save its extreme oddity, it being entirely dif- 

 ferent from any song I ever heard. Perhaps the lateness of the season (Sep- 

 tember 1) may account for its seeming lack of musical ability, since its near 

 relative, Bachman's Finch, is famed for its charming song. 



Many of the young in nesting plumage were taken, and, late as it was, I 

 obtained good evidence, from the appearance of some of the females, that they 

 had not yet entirely finished cares of incubation, and I think a few still had 

 eggs. In the few days spent here, however, I did not discover their nest, 

 which, as is the case with aestivalis, is probably placed on the ground. 

 Below is given a description of a young bird taken at Camp Grant in 1873, 



