ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM THE WEST. 271 
to the eastward in the prairie states, being less varied and ringing, 
and more guttural. The horned lark was equally characteristic, 
being by far the most numerous species here met with. During 
the excessive heat of midday it was seen crouching with half open 
wings in the shade of some tussock of herbage; whilst in win- 
ter, when it is equally abundant, it is not uncommon to meet 
with considerable numbers that have died of the extreme cold, as 
was the writer’s experience the past winter. The yellow-winged 
sparrow is also one of the most abundant species. The pine 
wood finch (Peucea estivalis) of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, 
or rather the representative of that species, was quite frequently 
met with near the streams, where its sweetly modulated song greets 
the ear with the first break of dawn, and is again heard at night 
till the last trace of twilight has disappeared. It is here very 
appreciably paler than the race of P. estivalis found in the pine 
barrens more to the eastward, though not otherwise sensibly differ- 
ent. It here constitutes the variety of this species known in 
the books as P. Cassinii. The lark finch (Chondestes grammaca) 
was also common, but affected chiefly the vicinity of the streams 
and damp hollows. The yellow-headed blackbird, whose biography 
was so well written sometime since in the Natuxarist * by Dr. 
Coues, was also a few times met with. But by far the most- 
interesting species were the chestnut-collared bunting (Plectro- 
phanes ornatus) and the lark bunting (Calamospiza bicolor), because 
both are not only characteristic of the region, but they are among 
the few birds strictly confined to the arid plains. Both were quite 
abundant, but were only met with on the high ridges and dry 
plateaus, where they seemed to live somewhat in colonies. Ata 
few localities they were always numerous, but elsewhere were often 
hot met with in a whole day’s drive. They were rather wary, and 
very tenacious of life, often flying long distances when shot through 
vital parts. Most of the many specimens procured by us had to 
be killed on the wing at long range. Both are strong fliers and 
Seem to delight in flying in the strongest gales, when all the other 
birds appear to move with difficulty and generally lay concealed 
among the grass. Both sing while on the wing, the lark bunting 
hovering in the wind, and shaking its tail and legs after the well 
“nown manner of the yellow-breasted chat. Indeed its song strongly 
ry ee rae 
* Am. Nat., Vol. v, p. 195. 
