FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 323 



"Although the male seeks to win the affections of his lady 

 love by persistently shrilling near her tlie story of his pas- 

 sion, he generally represses his love trills near the home 

 which his mistress has established." 



THE LECONTE'S SPARROW* 



The Leconte's Sparrow has an interesting history. It 

 was first discovered and named by Audubon in 1843. 

 Later his account seemed almost a myth, for no more indi- 

 viduals were taken, and even the specimen on which lie 

 based his published report of the new species was lost. It 

 was not seen again until Dr. Coues rediscovered it in 1873, 

 obtaining his specimens on the Turtle Mountain, near the 

 border of Dakota. 



Of their habits Dr. Coues says: "In their mode of 

 flight the birds resemble \vTens; a simile which suggested 

 itself to me at the time was that of a bee returning home 

 laden with pollen; they flew straight and steady enough, 

 but rather feebly, as if heavily freighted for their very 

 short wings." 



Its range is quite extensive, for it is found from the 

 great plains eastward through Illinois and Indiana and 

 from JManitoba southward. During tlie winter months it 

 frequents the states bordering the Gulf of iSIexico. This 

 sparrow is often seen in the stubble of grain fields which 

 have become covered with grass and low weeds, to the cover 

 of which it will retreat when friglitened. In this respect 

 it resembles the grasshopper sparrow, and, like it, is easily 

 overlooked. ]Mr. Xelson found it on moist prairies that 



