BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 117 



than those of the Marsh Wren. They had some difficulty 

 in starting them from the long and somewhat dose grass 

 to which this species seems to confine itself. Several 

 times Mr. Bell nearly trod on them before the birds would 

 take to wing ; and they almost invariably alighted again 

 within a few feet and ran like mice through the grass. 



.... After a while, two were shot on the wing 



I have named this species in honor of my young friend, 

 Spencer F. Baird, of CarUsle, Pennsylvania." 



I think it more probable that the birds which occur at 

 Ipswich are winter visitors from the north, than that they 

 are stragglers from so great a distance as Nebraska. As 

 might be expected, I heard no song-note at this season, but 

 simply a short chirp of alarm. 



76. Fasserculiis savanna, Bon. — Savannah Spar- 

 row. Common summer resident ; breeds abundantly along 

 the coast, and sometimes in the interior. Have taken it 

 from April 17th to November 12th. Frequents the fields 

 and marshes. 



77. Pooecetes gramineus, Baied. — Bay^inged Spar- 

 row, " Grass Finch." Abundant ; breeds in the fields every- 

 where. Arrives from April 5th to 20th ; leaves about the 

 1st of November. 



78. Coturniculus passerinus, Bon. — Ydlow^inged 

 Sparrow. Not an uncommon summer resident ; breeds 

 regularly. Arrives the first or second week in May ; leaves 

 early in September. Frequents dry sandy places, or pas- 

 tures grown up to weeds. Very numerous on Nantucket 

 Island, where it breeds abundantly. 



79. Coturniculus Henslowii, Bon. — Henslow's 

 Sparrow. Very rare summer resident. Took two males 

 in a wet meadow on May 10, 1867. Song-note like the 

 syllables " see'-wick,'' with the first prolongedly' and the 

 second quickly given. Said to breed. Mr. J. A. Allen in- 

 forms me that the specimens that he has taken have been 



