Notes on Rhode Island ORNiTHOLOG"y. 



19 



bird of the second year, was singing beside the nest June 18. Several 

 others were seen during the summer and autumn of 1899. I" ^900 and 

 1901, Orchard Orioles bred more commonly about Fort Adams. Nests 

 were seen in the Agassiz, Peckham, Greene, and Burden estates ; and 

 young and old birds were frequently seen during July. One of the notes 

 of the young suggests the call of a Totanus. 



106. Icterus galbula. Baltimore. — A fairly common summer resi- 

 dent; breeds, Maj' 17 (1899) to August 21 (1900). One was seen in our 

 yard quite late in the autumn of 1899, but the date was not noted. 



107. Scolecophagus carolinus. Rusty Grackle. — Noted on March 

 27, April I, and April 10, 1S99. Forty were seen April 4, 1900. Not seen 

 in 1901. 



108. Quiscalus quisqula. Purple Grackle. ^ — A common summer 

 resident ; breeds, March 20 (1899) to August 22 (1900). Incubation com- 

 menced as early as May 27, 1899; and young were on the wing June 25th. 

 Flocks frequent the shores in July, during which month hundreds roost 

 nightly in a swamp of soft maples near Brenton's Point. 



109. Carpodacus purpureus. Purple Finch. — A rare summer resi- 

 dent ; breeds. May 17 to August 8, 1899. 



no. Passer domesticus. House Sparrow. — A permanent resident; 

 breeds. These birds flock to the few trees at Fort Adams, and prevent 

 native birds from stopping. Like the house rat, it acts as a scavenger on 

 the beaches, where it is found in the greatest number in winter. Many 

 are eaten by Sharp-shinned and Pigeon Hawks. Breeding begins in May 

 and June. 



111. Astragalinus tristis. American Goldfinch. ^ — A common resi- 

 dent; breeds. Like the Cedar Waxwing it is gregarious and a late breeder, 

 remaining in singing flocks until late in June, when mating begins. In 

 winter flocks of hundreds assemble. 



1 12. Spinas pinus. Pine Siskin. — Rare. Only one flock of four, seen 

 November 23, 1S99. 



113. Passerina nivalis. Snowflake. — A common winter resident. 

 November lo (1899) to March 20 (1900). 



114. Pooecetes gramineus. Vesper Sparrow. — A common summer 

 resident ; breeds. April 6 (1900) to September 15 (1901). Sings from 

 the beginning of May to the end of July. 



115. Passerculus princeps. Ipswich Sparrow.— A rare winter visitor, 

 frequenting the sanddunes. One or two were seen on December 16, 1S99. 



116. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Savannah Sparrow. — 

 An abundant summer resident ; breeds. April 16 to October 23, 1900. 

 In autumn it was especially abundant at the post garden, where at least 

 two hundred were seen October 3. It begins to sing immediately upon 

 its arrival in spring, and its song continues through July. Apparently 

 the same pair returned two seasons (1899-1901) to the vicinity of my 

 house, singing from the same stake on a rocky hilltop. Young wei-e 

 already flying on the Middletown marsh by June 16, 1900. One seen 



