28o LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



Its song is characterized for its sweetness, and 

 surpasses in strength that of any of our ordinary 

 sparrows. Mr. Audubon describes it as com- 

 pounded of the notes of the ^Canary and the 

 European Woodlark. 



The flight of this species is low, rapid, undulating, 

 and but moderately sustained. 



This bird subsists mainly upon seeds and berries, 

 although many insects are eagerly devoured. The 

 seeds of various species of Panicum, Amarantus, 

 and Solidago, among plants; besides Casnonia 

 pennsylvanica, Harpalus compar, Platynus cupri- 

 pennis, Formica sanguinea, and other species of 

 ants have been identified in several stomach- 

 examinations. 



According to Mr. Audubon this species breeds 

 in Labrador, where young birds were met with as 

 early as the 4th of July. Dr. Hoy found them 

 breeding near Racine, Wis., and Mr. Audubon 

 met them during the breeding-period on the 

 Upper Missouri. In the weedy pastures in 

 Parley's Park, in Northern Utah, a nest with youno- 

 was discovered by Mr. Ridgway imbedded in the 

 ground, underneath a bush. In high Arctic 

 latitudes^ it has been found breeding, and on the 

 top of Mt. Lincoln, at an elevation of. eight thou- 

 sand feet, it has been found to be a very abundant 

 species by Mr. Allen. 



Mr. Kennicott observed its nest as early as 

 June 14, and remarked that it was placed on the 

 ground in a clump of grasses, in an open and dry 



