CASSIN'S SPARROW. 151 



spot where the Sparrow was seen, and that he struck at the place first several times 

 with his whip, till he discovered the parent and then her nest.' This seems to fully 

 confirm the theory that Peucaea aestivalis bachmani imitates, as far as possible, the 

 movements and hiss of a snake, when disturbed on her nest, and tries to protect it 

 thereby, to some extent at any rate. 



"A day afterwards the Doctor in passing within thirty steps of this last-mentioned 

 nesting site, flushed four Sparrows which he took for early birds of this species, prob- 

 ably hatched in April. They rose like a covey of Bob-whites, all together, and with a 

 whirr. There seems to be little doubt but that two broods are raised in a season, if 

 not more. Bachman's Sparrow is mainly terrestrial in its habits, though when flushed 

 it often alights in trees. Frequently, when suddenly disturbed, it rises with an 

 audible whir. 



Dr. Avery writes me that they sing at all hours of the day, but their song is 

 especially striking and attractive at twilight, commencing with a prelude of some sweet, 

 soul-stirring sounds, then, changing to a trill, louder and more melodious than that of 

 the Field Sparrow. This prelude is varied, and relieves the song of monotony, the little 

 musician seeming to endeavor to make himself as entertaining as possible by frequent 

 changes in the introductory notes of his strain." 



NAMES: Bachman's Sparrow, Oak-woods Sparrow. 



SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Fringilla bachmani Aud. (1834). Peucasa bachmani Aud. (1839). Peucaea illinoiensis 

 Ridgw. (1879). Peucxa ^stivalis illinoiensis Ridgw. (1881). PBUC^A ^STIVALIS BACHMANI 

 Brewster (1885). 



DESCRIPTION: Lighter than the type, "with streaks on upper parts bright rusty, the back often without 

 black streaks." 



Length, 5.30 to 6.25 inches; wing, 2.4,7; tail, 2.61 inches. 



CASSIN'S SPARROW. 



Peucasa cassini Baird. 



]pN THE dry region of Texas, where the beautiful Yucca Treculeana forms a conspicuous 

 (a part of the landscape, where the characteristic flowering willow', the evergreen 

 sophora^ with its lustrous leaves and deliciously fragrant flowers, the pretty silver bush', 

 the mesquitS and a large number of cacti, pentstemons, small growing or stemless 

 yuccas and many other characteristic plants grow in great profusion, Cassin's Sparrow 

 is the most abundant member of its family. It is especially common where the mesquit 

 forms thickets and open woodlands ; here it is at times the only feathered inhabitant. In 

 spring the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher as well as the Orchard Oriole and the Lark Sparrow 

 are also very numerous in these locahties. In the eastern part of the State the bird 

 frequents the edges of the live oak prairies and places where the bumelia^ white-thorns, 

 and other shrubs skirt the woodlands. In the vicinity of Austin, New Braunfels, and 



1 Cbllopsis saJigna. * Sopbora secuadiflora. 3 Leucophyllum texaaum. * Prosopis JaliSora. 5 Bumelia lanuginosa. 



