Todd : Birds of Erie and Presque Isle. 571 



secured. No more were met with until February 28, 1902, when 

 a few were found in a field west of the city, and two specimens taken 

 the following day. Again, in 1903, on March 11 and 13, still others 

 were found, and on this occasion five specimens were taken. Two 

 examples were secured on March 8, 1904. "They seem to be much 

 wilder and more difficult to procure than the Snow Buntings, with 

 which they often associate." Future research may show that this 

 bird occurs regularly every season, but the above are all the known 

 records. Doubtless it is found also through the months intervening 

 between October and March. 



155. Pooecetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow ; Grass Finch. 



"A summer resident, common, arriving the latter part of March 

 (March 31, 1893), and soon becoming numerous. Nests have been 

 found as early as May 7 (1893), and as late as July 2 (1892), in the 

 latter case possibly a second nesting." (Bacon.) It was observed on 

 the sandy barrens of the Peninsula on April 18, 1900, in straggling 

 flocks, reminding one of those of the Slate-colored Snowbird in their 

 behavior. In the fall the last bird was noted October 27. 



156. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Savanna Sparrow. 

 Possibly a summer resident on the mainland, and so given by Dr. 



Warren on Mr. Sennett's authority {Birds of Pennsylvania, 1890, 234), 

 but the exact locality is indeterminate. The only specimen in Mr. 

 Sennett's collection is dated September 12, 1875, and by all other 

 observers it has been noted only as an uncommon transient in the 

 autumnal migration. The writer shot a specimen on the breakwater 

 August 30, 1893, and Mr. Bacon took specimens on September 16 and 

 30 of the same year. In the season of 1900 it was noted on September 

 6, 14, and 15, specimens being secured on each occasion. The sand- 

 barrens along the outside beach were its chosen haunts at this season. 



157. Coturniculus savannarum passerinus. Yellow-winged Spar- 

 row. 



In a section such as this, so well adapted to its needs, the present 

 species would be expected as a common summer resident, frequenting 

 the open country of the lake shore plain. It is mentioned as breeding 

 by Mr. Sennett {Auk, VI, 1889, 198) in such a way as to leave 

 the inference that the circumstance deserves special remark, and, 

 indeed, it is given as a rare breeder in this section on the authority 

 of the same observer (Warren, Birds of Pennsylvania, 1890, 235). 



