RIDGWAY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 19 



While thus maneuvering they burst forth with their sharp, grating- 

 notes, which have a near resemblance to the noise made by a gate 

 swinging on rusty hinges. In the delivery of their song the throat 

 swells to three times its ordinary size and it is seemingly with great 

 effort that they burst forth, commencing with a shriek which breaks 

 up 'into chattering notes. The noise as the wings and tail beat the 

 air would stand comparison with that made by the pigeon. 



They use the same nest year after year, giving it each season 

 what little repairing may be necessary. Two broods are commonly 

 raised in a season. 



59. Poocetes gramineus confinis Baird. (Western Ves- 

 per Sparrow). Quite common at Corpus Christi, where it is found 

 in the open fields and among the prickly pear cactus. 



60. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna (Wils.). [Sa- 

 vanna Sparrow). Common at Corpus Christi. They are met 

 with wherever suitable places of concealment abound. Most often 

 found under prickly pear and in open chaparral, or where the two 

 mingle. 



61. Ammodramus sandwichensis alaudinus ( Bonap.). 

 ( Western Savanna Sparrow). Found residing in about the same 

 localities as the preceding species, but with more tendency to places 

 where the vegetation was more scattered. 



62. Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus Ridgw. 

 ( Western Grasshopper Sparrow). In open fields or on the ground 

 among stunted cacti this sparrow was seen quite often. On March 

 1 8th, I noticed one of these birds on the ground under a large cac- 

 tus, its peculiar docility aroused my attention and I shot it. On 

 skinning it I found a parasite which had bored completely through 

 its small intestine. This may have accounted for its unusual stupidity. 



63. Chondestes grammacus strigatus (Swains.). ( West- 

 ern Lark Sparrow). Several specimens were taken March 27th 

 about twenty miles north of Corpus Christi. All were in bright 

 plumage. 



64. Spizella pallida (Swains.). [Clay-colored Sparrow). 

 A number of these sparrows were seen March 24th two miles south- 

 west of the city among a scattered growth of chaparral. 



65. Spizella pusilla (Wils.). (Field Sparrow). This bird 

 was generally seen in scattered growths of cacti and chaparral. 



66. Melospiza lincolni (Aud.). (Lincoln's Sparrow). This 

 bird was seen occasionally on every trip and was sometimes in com- 

 pany with the White-crowned Sparrow. 



