COTUBNICULUS HENSLOVII, HENSLOW's BUNTING. 135 



full complement (usually five) of fresh eggs, early in June. According 

 to Prof. Sumichrast, the species winters in Vera Cruz. 



Mr. Allen institutes an interesting comparison between the colors of 

 this species in different sections of the country. " On comparing Florida 

 specimens with northern ones, the former are found to be far more 

 brightly colored than the latter. Between northern and southern speci- 

 mens of the same species greater differences in color are rarely observ- 

 able than in this, the differences being far greater than occur between 

 many conspecific geographical races to which has been awarded specific 

 rank. The difference consists in the much brighter and blacker tints of 

 the southern form. Massachusetts specimens, although lighter than 

 Florida ones, are still much darker than those from the plains." To 

 the last-mentioned pale form Mr. Eidgway has applied the wdme perpal- 

 Udus. Mr. Allen observes that it is one of the characteristic summer 

 birds of the plains, ranging to the eastern foot-hills of the Eocky 

 Mountains, and very common in Salt Lake Valley. It breeds abun- 

 dantly in Kansas. 



The song of the Yellow-winged Sparrow is a humble effort, rather 

 weak and wheezy, but quite curious, more resembling tbe noise made 

 by some grasshoppers than the voice of a bird. It is only heard in the 

 breeding season, when the little performer mounts a tall mullein in his 

 chosen pasture, or the fence-rail around it, settles himself firmly on his 

 legs, and throwing up his head, utters the chirring notes ad libitum. 

 At other seasons he has only a weak chirp. The bird is very timid, 

 keeping almost always on the ground, amid the weeds and grass, where 

 he runs like a mouse. On being forced up, he starts quickly, with a 

 wayward, jerky flight, but seldom goes far before pitching into the 

 grass again. The nest is placed on the ground, in a field, and resembles 

 that of other Sparrows that build on the ground. As many as nine eggs 

 are said to have been found in one nest, but the number is usually 

 four or five. They are pure white, speckled with rich, clear, reddish- 

 brown, chiefly at the larger end, but sparingly also all over the surface. 

 The egg is usually rather globose — 0.75 by 0.60 for an average instance. 



COTUENIOULUS HEXSLOVII, (Aud.) Bp. 

 Henslow's Bunting. 



Mmberiza herwlmoi, AtiD., Orn. Biog. i, 1831, 360; v, 498, pi. 77.— Atjd., Syn. 1839, 104.— 

 Atjd., B. Am. iii, 75, pi. 163.— Gib., B. L. I. 1844, 104. 



FringiUa lienslowi, Ndtt., Man. i, 1840, 2d ed. 571. 



Coiurnioulus henslmoi, Bp., List, 1838, 32 ; Consp. i, 18.')0. 481.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 451. — 

 Wheat., Ohio Agriij. Rep. I860.— Hayd., Rep.' 1862, 1G6.— CouES & Peent., 

 Smiths. Rep. 1861 (1862), 412.— Wheel., Pi. Bost. Soc. vii, 137 (Berlin, Mass.).- 

 Allen, Pr. Ess. Inst, iv, 1864, 71 (Springfield, Mass.). — Lawk., Ann. Lye. N. Y. 

 viii, 1868, 287 (New York).— Coues, Pr. Ess. Inst, v, 1868, 282 (Massachusetts, 

 rare). — Coues, Pr. Bost. Soc. xii, 1868, 115 (South CaroIiua).^TuRNB., B. E. Pa. 

 1869, 22 (rather rare).— Allen, Bull. M. C.Z. ii, 1871, 279 (Florida, in winter). 

 Mayn., Guide, 1870, 117. — Coues, Key, 1872, 137.— Tkippe, Pr. Bost. Soc. sv, 

 1873, 237 (Iowa, common, breeds).— Snow, B. Kans. 1873, 7.— B. B. & E., K. A. 

 B. i, 1874, 550, pi. 25, f. 5. 



Ammodromus henslo-wi, Gray, G. of B. ii, 373. 



Hai. — Eastern United States to Massachusetts. West to the Loup Fork. " Winters 

 in Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida ; breeds from Maryland to New York " 

 {Auduhon). 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 8968, Loup Fork of the Platte. 



Not obtained by Captain Raynolds' Expedition. 



The obtaining of this specimen greatly extends the known range of 

 the species, and fixes the westernmost limit thus far recorded. Audu- 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



