SPARROWS. 65 



often makes its home in dooryards and village gardens, and renders 

 good service to man by destroying great quantities of weed seed 

 (notably crab grass) and of noxious insects, which constitute about 

 one-fourth of its food. 



[Clay-colored Sparrow. Spizella pallida. 



This little sparrow, which closely resembles the chipping sparrow, occurs commonly 

 in migration in the Mississippi Valley, breeding from Nebraska northward. It passes 

 through Missouri in April and May and again in September and October, and should 

 be found also in Arkansas during those months.] 



Field Sparrow. Spizella putilla pusilla. 



The field sparrow occurs as an abundant migrant and winter resi- 

 dent, but is found in the breeding season mainly in the northern and 

 northwestern parts of the State. It is reported as breeding at Clin- 

 ton, and I found it fairly common at Pettigrew and at Hoxie. Two 

 birds heard singing at Stuttgart May 14 were probably breeders, but 

 the species is very rare in summer so far south. During the summer 

 of 1910 Mrs. Stephenson heard it singing constantly at Helena as 

 late as July 24, but that is the first year in which it had been seen 

 there in the breeding season. Hollister reports it very abundant at 

 Stuttgart in November, and Hanna found it common at Van Buren 

 in December. Mrs. Stephenson heard the first song of this species 

 at Helena March 23, and the last migrants in spring leave there by 

 April 21. At Delight the last spring migrant was seen on April 10 

 and the first fall migrant October 10, the species becoming common 

 November 4. 



Western Field Sparrow. Spizella pusilla arenacea. 



This subspecies may be expected to occur casually during migra- 

 tions and in winter. The only record is furnished by Mr. G. Dallas 

 Hanna, who collected 2 specimens at Van Buren on January 7, 1911. 



Slate-colored Junco. Junco hyemalis. 



The junco, or "snowbird," is a common winter resident, arriving 

 from the north about the last of October (earliest date at Helena, 

 October 24) and remaining until the middle of April (latest date 

 April 22). It is reported abundant at Stuttgart in November and 

 January (Hollister), at Van Buren in December (Hanna), and com- 

 mon at Fayetteville on February 27 (Harve}~). At Delight the 

 species arrived about November 1 and departed northward by 

 April 6. The food of this bird during its stay in the south is almost 

 wholly composed of the seeds of various weeds and grasses. 



Bachman Sparrow. Peucasa sestivalis bachnani. 



This sparrow is a rather rare and local summer resident, usually 

 found in old pastures. I secured a single specimen at Conway on 

 June 7 and another (a singing male) at Camden on July 7. At 



94869°— Bull. 38—11 5 



