116 THE NAIURALISI'S ‘GUIDE, 
as I have remarked elsewhere, thousands of Snow-Bunt- 
ings feed. There are, in some places, sinks or depressions 
with the level of the sea. In these sinks, which, except 
during the summer months, are filled with fresh water, 
a more luxuriant growth of grass appears. Walking, on 
December 4, 1868, near one of these places, in search of 
Lapland Longspurs, I started a sparrow from out the tall 
grass, which flew wildly, and alighted again a few rods 
away. I approached the spot, surprised at seeing a spar- 
row at this late day so far north, especially in so bleak a 
place. After some trouble [ again started it. It flew 
wildly as before, when I fired, and was fortunate enough 
to secure it. It proved to be Baird’s Sparrow. When I 
found I had taken a specimen which I had never seen be- 
fore, — although at that time [ did not know its name or 
the interest attached to it,—TI instantly went in search 
of more. After a time I succeeded in starting another. 
This one, however, rose too far off for gunshot, and 
I did not secure it. It flew away to a great distance, 
when I lost sight of it. After this I thought that 
among the myriads of Snow-Buntings that continually 
rose a short distance from me I again detected it, but 
I was perhaps mistaken. I am confident of having 
seen it in previous years at this place, earlier in the 
season, 
To show the similarity of the habits of these birds, even 
in widely different localities, I give below extracts from 
Audubon’s account. “ During one of our buffalo hunts 
(July 26, 1843) we happened to pass along several wet 
places closely overgrown with a kind of slender, rush-like 
grass, from which we heard the notes of this species, and 
which we thought were produced by Marsh Wrens (Z'roglo- 
dytes palustris). Messrs. Harris and J. G. Bell immediately 
went in search of the birds. Mr. Bell soon discovered that 
the notes of Baird’s Bunting were softer and more prolonged 
