472 ‘General Notes. [July, 
whitish edging on the inner ag of the tail feathers to which the 
standard authorities fail to refe 
The third bird on my list is Li Conies bunting (Coterniculus 
Leconteit). The discovery that this little known species is to be 
included among the birds of Minneapolis is the latest ornitholog- 
ical novelty of which the district can boast ; being first indisputably 
noted only during the past summer. But his presence is still far 
date he has rigidly confined himself to one particular spot. This 
is a large tract of meadow just outside the city limits, which, 
despite the close proximity of a railroad and several other scarcely 
less noisy highways, proves to be a great resort for many birds, 
am m the species in question. It has been observed on 
sundry occasions during the last season, and taken both in juve- 
nile and adult stages. 
One of the smallest of the sparrows, and likewise one of the 
least noticeable in point of attire, it is also the fate of this species 
to lead a career of the utmost unobtrusiveness and humility; 
being for the most of his time buried deeply in the grass, where 
he gleans the lesser grubs and more delicate seeds found to con- 
stitute his fare. In his style of flight, as well as in his song, he is 
almost undistinguishable from his yellow-winged brother sparrow 
(Coturniculus passerinus); in short, it may be described as the 
yellow-winged sparrow transferred to low grounds and marked 
by Sie constant characteristics brought about by the change. 
While the young of the bird were procured in severąl instances 
in the cae to which I have alluded, the nest remained unde- 
tected, doubtless being hidden so securely i in the grass that its 
whereabouts could only have been brought to signe by the 
. luckiest chance.— W. L. Tiffany, Minneapolis, Minn} 
Mone oF DISTRIBUTION OF FRESH-WATER Mussets.—On April 
17, 1877, the writer, while exploring that portion of the Erie 
Canal known as the Wide Water, near Mohawk, N. Y., unexpect- 
edly came across Unio rubiginosus Lea. Five specimens in all 
were secured during this and two succeeding expeditions. The 
species has not hitherto been found on the Atlantic slope, but 
belongs to the Ohio basin, ànd, hence, E the western fauna. It 
has been recorded at Buffalo (teste Prof. C. Dewey), and at Roch- 
ester (zeste T. Robinson) in Western New York, but only in 
streams flowing into the great Lakes. Between Mohawk and the 
latter localities is a ridge or water-shed sloping to the West and 
the East. The Erie canal passes over this ridge, and through it 
the species has probably been introduced and colonized. My 
friend, Dr. Lewis, of Mohawk, informs me that about eight years 
ago he found in the canal, a single specimen of Unio nae 
1 The nest and eggs of C. Leconéei are unknown, and Mr. Tiffany would do 
to berm thorough search for them on the spot where the species thus noatornht 
o be abundant.— Æ. C. 
