140 



OYSTER-CATCHER— SPARROW—FINCH— BUNTINGS. 



Black Oyster-catcher. 



Bachman's Oyster-catcher. (Hcematopus 

 niger.) 



Fig. 9. 



This bird, as stated by those who have observed it, is restricted 

 to the Pacific Coast. Its food consists of mollusks and insects. 

 The habits of this species are similar to the Oyster- catcher (Hama- 

 topus palliatus), figured on Plate XLII, and described on page 58. 



PLATE XCIV. 



Baird's Sparrow. Baird's Bunting. (Centronyx bairdii^) 



Fig. 1. 



For a long time, this was considered a very rare bird. We be- 

 lieve it was about thirty years between the time of its first discovery 

 and the observing and taking of it by Dr. Coues in Dakota, and 

 by Mr. Allen in Colorado. It is now considered an abundant 

 species in the region of its migrations, which takes in the central 

 plains, north to the British provinces, south to New Mexico and 

 Arizona, east nearly to the Red River of the North, West to the 

 Rocky Mountains. 



"The song," says Coues, "is peculiar, consisting of two or 

 three distinct syllables, in a mellow, tinkling tone, running into an 

 indefinite trill ; it may be suggested by zip-zip-zip-zr-r-r-r. In 

 their general appearance and habits, these birds are so nearly the 

 same as the Savannah Sparrows, that it was two or three days be- 

 fore I learned to distinguish them at gunshot range. They do not 

 go in flocks ; yet there is a sort of colonization among them ; for 

 we may ride a mile or two over the prairie without seeing any, and 

 then come upon numerous pairs, breeding together." The nest, 

 according to Allen, "is a slight structure of grasses and weed- 

 bark, circularly disposed, about four inches across outside. It 

 contained five fresh eggs, most nearly resembling those of the 

 Bay-winged Bunting, but smaller, and decidedly more rounded. 

 They measure 0.80 by 0.65. The ground is dull white, speckled 

 all over, but very irregularly, with light reddish brown (pale 

 sienna), and have a few larger blotches of the same and a darker 

 shade, owing to heavier laying on the pigment." 



Green-tailed Finch. Blanding's Finch. (Pipilo chlorurus.) 



Fig. 2. 



This is one of our abundant species, that is usually met with in 

 the regions of the Southern Rocky Mountains, accompanied by 

 others of the fringillian birds. 



In a late communication to Dr. Coues, Mr. Allen observes : 

 " This is one of the most interesting birds met with in the wooded 

 portions of the great central plateau of the continent. In the 

 mountains of Colorado, it ranges from the foot-hills up to the limit 

 of trees, and throughout the mountain valleys is one of the more 

 common species. It affects the moister thickets, near the streams, 

 and possesses a peculiar and very pleasing song. In habits or 

 notes, it has but little resemblance to the group of Towhees with 

 which it is commonly associated by systematic writers, presenting 

 in these respects far more resemblance to the group of Sparrows 

 so familiarly represented in the Atlantic States by the common 

 White-throat, from which it only differs structurally in its relatively 

 longer tail." 



Mr. Trippe's notes upon the same subject will be read with in- 

 terest : "The Green-tailed Finch is abundant throughout Clear 

 Creek county, from its lower valleys up to within 700 or 800 feet 

 of timber-line, breeding throughout ; but is most numerous, dur- 



ing the breeding season, from 7,500 to 9,000 feet. It arrives at 

 Idaho early in May, and soon becomes abundant, remaining till 

 the close of September, or early part of October. It is a sprightly, 

 active little bird, with something Wren-like in its movements and 

 appearance. It is equally at home among the loose stones and 

 rocks of a hill-side (where it hops about with all the agility of the 

 Rock Wren), and the densest thickets of brambles and willows in 

 the valleys, amidst which it loves to hide. It is rather shy, and 

 prefers to keep at a good distance from any suspicious object ; and 

 if a cat or dog approaches its nest, makes a great scolding, like 

 the Cat-bird, and calls all the neighbors to its assistance; but if a 

 person walks by, it steals away very quietly, and remains silent 

 till the danger is passed. It has a variety of notes, which it is 

 fond of uttering; one sounds like the mew of a kitten, but thinner 

 and more wiry. Its song is very fine, quite different from the 

 Towhee's, and vastly superior to it. It builds its nest in dense 

 clumps of brambles, and raises two broods each season, the first 

 being hatched about the middle of June." 



Chestnut-collared Lark Bunting. Chestnut-collared Longspur. 

 bellied Longspur. (Plectrophanes ornatus^) 



Fig. 3- 



Black- 



This is another of our abundant species, that is to be met with 

 in the interior of the British provinces, and the whole of the Mis- 

 souri region. 



"Mr. Allen sends me the following notice, prepared for this 

 work (Birds of the Northwest, by Dr. Coues) : * The Chestnut- 

 collared Bunting was found on the plains about Fort Hays, in 

 considerable abundance. They live in summer in large scattered 

 colonies, generally many pairs being found at the same locality, 

 while they may not be again met with in a whole day's travel. 

 We found them very shy for so small birds, and were obliged to 

 obtain all our specimens (some thirty in number) by shooting 

 them on the wing at long range. They breed, of course, on the 

 ground, constructing a rather slight but neat nest of dry grass and 

 the stems of small plants. The eggs appear to be commonly five 

 in number, blotched and streaked with rusty on a white ground, 

 full sets of which were obtained the first week in June. This 

 species has the curious habit of circling round the observer, with 

 buoyant, undulatory flight, generally high in the air, and usually 

 keeping all the while well out of range, uttering, meanwhile, its 

 rather sharp but musical call-notes. I met with it, in winter, from 

 Fort Hays westward, nearly to the Colorado line, indicating that 

 it is resident here the whole year. We failed to meet with it, how- 

 ever, about Cheyenne, in August, or anywhere to the westward 

 of Western Kansas ; neither does it appear in Mr. Aiken's list of 

 the birds observed by him near Canon City, Colorado, nor in Mr. 

 Holden's list of the birds seen by him in the vicinity of Sherman." 1 



Maccown's Bunting; or Longspur. (Plectrophanes maccownii.) 



Fig- 4- 



This species was first discovered by* Captain Maccown, in West- 

 ern Texas. It is met with in the middle province of the United 

 States, thence north to the Black Hills, and east to Kansas, Texas, 

 and New Mexico. Its habits and notes are very similar to the 

 last-named species — Chestnut-collared Lark Bunting. 



Painted Lark Bunting. Painted Longspur. (Plectrophanes pictus.) 



Fig. 5- 



This is one of our uncommon species, and, when met with, is 

 usually in company with the Chestnut-collared Lark Bunting. 

 They are also very similar in their habits and general appearance. 



