328 BIRDS — FRINGILLID.5B. 



mounts a stump or the top of a weed-stalk by the hour sometimes, sing- 

 ing at short intervals his peculiar song, tseeeee, so high and monotonous 

 that it has been aptly compared to the note of the grasshopper. Later 

 in the season, as if the bird, tired of the monotony of its breeding note, 

 changes it to a shorter and less monotonous se ick, the first syllable of 

 which is prolonged, and after an interval the last is given quickly, 

 abruptly, and strongly emphasized. More rarely a lew short and rapid 

 notes are heard, as if the bird was trying to learn to sing. 



The nest is placed "upon the ground, usually concealed by a bunch of 

 weeds, and built of grass, with a lining of horse hair. The eggs are four 

 or five, white, with reddish-brown spots, and measure .76 by ,60. 



COTUKNICULTIS HBNSLOVII (Aud.) Bp. 



Emberiza henslowi, Audubon, Birds Am., iii, 1841, 76, pi. 163. 



Coturniculus henslowi, Wheaton, Ohio Agric. Kep. for 18G0, 1366, 376 j Eeprint, 1861, 9, 

 18; Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agrio Rep for 1874, 566; Eepiiar, 187.5, 6. — Langi>on, 

 Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 8; Revised List, Jonrn. Gin Soc. Nar. liist., i, 1879, 175 j 

 Eepvint, 9. 



Cotumiealits henslowi, Bonajparte, List, 183-!, gj. 

 Coturniculus Jienslomi, CouES, BirJa N. W., 1874, 1.3S. 



Eesemlding the last; smaller; more yellowish above, and with sharp maxillary, pec- 

 toral and lateral black strealsa below ; tail longer, reaohiog beyond feet. 



Habitat, Eastern Uniied States to New Hampshire ; west to the JLonp Fork of Platte-. 



The specimen of this bird from which Audubon drew his description 

 and figure, was taken at Newport, Kentucky, opposite Cincinnati. 

 He states that it is "accidental in Ohio."" Thespecirnen obtained by 

 me in 1856, in this vicinity, and which in 186L I mentioned as being 

 of this species, I now suppose to have been the young of the Yellow- 

 winged Sparrow, a species with which I was not then acquainted. 

 In all probability Henslow's Bunting will be found not uncommon in 

 restricted localities, particularly in the southern and western portions of 

 the State. In habits, nest, and eggs, it is hardly to be distinguised from 

 the preceeding species. 



Genus MELOSPIZA. Baird. 



Body stout. Bill conical, somewhat compressed. Feet stout, not reaching beyoncS 

 the tail; tarsus a little longer than middle toe. Wings quite short and rounded, soarceljr 

 reaching beyond bai-e of tail ; the tertials considerably longer than the secondaries; the^ 

 qnills considerably graduated, the fourth longest. Tail mpderately long and consider- 

 ably graduated. 



