Brown on Birds observed at Coosada, Alabama . 9 
taken (April 8), and I am confident the birds were not breeding at the 
time of my departure. Their haunts were exclusively scattering growths 
of pine. When upon the ground they lie very close, and often baffle all 
attempts at capture. 
The song of the male (first heard March* 8) is simple, but passionate 
and very sweet. It consists of a long-drawn initiatory note, followed by a 
leisurely trill four tones lower in the scale. A few embellishments are 
occasionally added, and the singer sometimes varies his strain by begin- 
ning upon a low note and rising to the trill. Shy and suspicious as this 
bird usually is, the singing male is apparently quite oblivious of danger. 
More than once I have approached an absorbed singer within five or six 
feet, without exciting the least alarm. 
58. Junco hyemalis (Z.) Scl. Snow-Bird. — Seen commonly up to 
about the middle of April. 
59. Spizella socialis {Wils.} Bp. Chipping Sparrow. — Found in 
large flocks throughout my stay. 
60. Spizella pusilla ( Wils.} Bp. Field Sparrow. — Abundant 
during my stay. On April 24 I found a nest containing four fresh eggs. 
I am not aware that this bird has previously been known to breed south 
of Virginia. 
61. Zonotrichia albicollis ( Gm .) Bp. White-throated Spar- 
row. — Rather common during my stay. 
62. Fasserella iliaca ( Merrem ) Sw. Fox-colored Sparrow. — 
Rather common winter visitant. Stragglers were seen in an old rice-field 
until the third week of March. 
63. Goniaphea caerulea (Z.) Bp. Blue Grosbeak. — A single 
female taken April 30, in a thicket bordering a brook. 
64. Cyanospiza cyanea (Z.) Bd. Indigo-Bird. — Common in 
swampy places, after April 6. 
65. Cardinalis virginianus (Brisson) Bp. Cardinal Redbird. — 
One of the commonest and most conspicuous winter birds, but seldom seen 
after mating, — about February 15. At this time the males began their 
song, but I did not detect the females singing till a fortnight later. 
Although the birds paired so early in the season, nearly two months 
passed before they began to work upon their nests. I found the first eggs 
on April 29. 
66. Pipilo erythrophthalmus (£.) Vieill. Towhee. — Common ; 
apparently resident. First song March 6. A single specimen of var. 
alleni was taken in a partial clearing, March 28. 
67. Agelaeus phceniceus (Z.) Vieill. Red- winged Blackbird. — 
A common resident ; forming immense flpcks in the winter, the sexes 
usually separated. 
68. Sturnella magna (Z.) Bd. Meadow Lark. — Common during 
my stay. Not less shy than at the North. They began to sing about the 
15th of February. 
