116 THE NATtTEAUST'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 fiUed 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 I 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 I did not know its name or 

 the interest attached to it, — I 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 {Troglo- 

 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 



