Brewster.] 374 [October 3, 



26. Chrysomitris tristis, Linn. — American Goldfinch. 

 Common at Gaspe, but seen nowhere else. 



27. Passerculus savanna, Wils. — Savanna Sparrow. 



An abundant species on all the grassy islands and shores of the 

 Gulf. Among the Magdalens there was a marked variation in the 

 songs of individuals inhabiting different islands, although the 

 notes of different individuals on the same island were usually 

 identical. Being on the watch for the Ipswich Sparrow (P. 

 princeps), I took pains to shoot every bird whose song was in 

 any wise peculiar ; but none of the numerous specimens exam- 

 ined showed any considerable variation from the typical style. I 

 shall always regret, however, that no opportunity occurred for 

 exploring the extensive sand-dunes of the larger islands. These 

 wastes of shifting sand, covered in places with patches of beach- 

 grass, were in every way suited to the peculiar requirements of 

 the Ipswich Sparrow; and on several occasions, as our vessel 

 passed near them, I caught the faint notes of Passerculi, some, if 

 not all of which, may have belonged to this interesting species 

 whose summer home is still unknown. • 



28. Melospiza lincolni, Aud. — Lincoln's Finch. 



Shortly after our arrival in the Gut of Canso the " Arethusa " 

 came to anchor one fine morning ofFMacnair Cove, a little fishing 

 hamlet nearly opj30site Port Hawkesbury. While our men were 

 attending to the purchase of some supplies the rest of us im- 

 proved the opportunity for a run on shore, and each choosing his 

 own course the party soon became separated. I made directly for 

 the nearest woods, and crossing a hilly pasture entered an exten- 

 sive tract of young spruces and balsams which grew for the most 

 part in clusters or thickets with circular openings between. 

 These openings were more or less springy, and the wetter places 

 sustained a rank growth of a peculiar dark-green reed, 1 slender 

 and round-stemmed and similar to, if not identical with, a species 

 which is found about brackish ponds along the coast of Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Here Lincoln's Finch was apparently numerous. At least, in 

 the brief time that elapsed before we were recalled by a signal 

 from the vessel, I shot three specimens, all of which were evi- 

 dently breeding. The first was a solitary male, but as it came 



1 Probably Scirpus validus* 



