8 Brown on Birds observed at Coosada, Alabama. 
50. Passerculus savanna ( Wils .) Bp. Savannah Sparrow. — 
Very common during tlie winter and early spring. Last seen about the 
middle of April. None heard singing. 
51. Pocecetes gramineus ( Gm .) Bd. Grass Finch. — Common at 
the same time as the preceding. 
52. Coturniculus passerinus (TFifo.) Bp. Yellow-winged Spar- 
row. — A single male was captured by Mr. Bond, in an open field bor- 
dering the Alabama River, late in the afternoon of March 1 9. 
53. Coturniculus henslowi (Audi) Bp. Henslow’s Bunting. — 
Ten specimens were taken between the dates of February 18 and April 4, 
inclusive, in old fields of rice and broom-sedge. 
In the course of a good deal of varied field experience I do not know 
that I ever met with a bird more difficult to procure, when found, than this 
one is. Wonderfully adapted as they are for running and dodging about 
upon the ground, they cannot be made to fly unless come upon abruptly 
and unexpectedly; and once under the protecting cover of a patch of 
bushes, no amount of shouting and thrashing about will avail to get them 
a-wing. On one occasion Mr. Bond actually trod upon one and caught 
it alive. Even when once made to fly, — and amongst the luxuriant, tan- 
gled grass which they most affect they may hardly be shot except on the 
wing, — their short, low flight is often scarcely more than a respectable 
jump over the grass- tops. 
There is a general but mistaken supposition that this bird never alights 
in trees. It does so occasionally, even at quite a distance from the ground. 
Neither song nor call-note was heard from any of the specimens taken 
by Mr. Bond and myself. The ovary of a female killed April 3 was found 
to be quite undeveloped. 
54. Coturniculus lecontei (Audi) Bp. LeConte’s Bunting. — 
This beautiful bird, which, if I am not mistaken, has never before been 
detected east of the Mississippi River, was found to be a rare winter visi- 
tant at Coosada. Seven specimens were taken, — three during the latter 
half of February, four during the first three weeks of March. In habits 
they were very like the preceding species, except that they intrusted 
themselves to longer flights and were found more regularly in and about 
brier-patches and clumps of low bushes. 
55. Melospiza palustris (Wils.) Bd. Swamp Sparrow. — First 
seen March 6. Soon became abundant in swampy woods and moist fields. 
Did not sing. 
56. Melospiza melodia (Wils.) Bd. Song Sparrow. — Rare dur- 
ing the winter. On February 27 I heard the first song, and within a few 
days the birds became quite common, but were not seen after the latter 
part of March. 
57. Peucaea aestivalis (Lichli) Cab. Bachman’s Finch. — Appar- 
ently resident, but very rare in the winter. Increased in numbers about 
the first week of March, and finally rather common. But one female was 
