49 



WHITE-CROWNED BUNTING. 

 EMBERIZA LEUCOPHRYS. 

 [Plate XXXI Fig. 4.] 



TuRTON, Syst. p. 536.^Peale's Museum, No. 6587; 



THIS beautifully marked species is one of the rarest of its 

 tribe in the United States, being chiefly confined to the northern 

 districts, or higher interior parts of the country, except in severe 

 winters when some few wanderers appear in the lower parts of the 

 state of Pennsylvania. Of three specimens of this bird, the only 

 ones I have yet met with, the first was caught in a trap near the 

 city of New York, and lived with me several months. It had no 

 song, and, as I afterwards discovered, was a female. Another, a 

 male was presented to me by Mr. Michael of Lancaster, Pennsyl- 

 vania. The third, a male, and in complete plumage, was shot in 

 the Great Pine swamp, in the month of May, and is faithfully re- 

 presented in the plate. It appeared to me to be unsuspicious, silent 

 and solitary; flitting in short flights among the underwood and piles 

 of prostrate trees torn up by a tornado, that some years ago passed 

 through the swamp. All my endeavours to discover the female or 

 nest were unsuccessful. 



From the great scarcity of this species our acquaintance with 

 its manners is but very limited. Those persons who have resided 

 near Hudson's bay, where it is common, inform us, that it makes 

 its nest in June, at the bottom of willows, and lays four chocolate- 

 colored eggs. Its flight is said to be short and silent; but when 

 it perches it sings very melodiously."^ 



VOL. IV, 



* Arct, Zool. 



N 



