104 
Jeffries on the Ipswich Sparrow. 
When first noticed they were very tame. If approached they would at 
once crouch in the thin grass, or even on the bare sand, until we were 
only a few feet from them, when, half erect, they would run a few yards 
in a straight line and again crouch. When put up they flew quickly for 
some distance, then ran along the sand for many yards before stopping, 
which rendered them very hard to find without a good dog. The later 
comers were very shy, never allowing a near approach, but, running be- 
fore the dog for several yards, would then rise wildly. 
At daybreak they would perch with the Savanna Sparrows on some 
bush, fence, or ridge-pole, and fly freely to and fro ; later in the day they 
were rarely seen unless carefully searched for, and not once did they give 
any note or chirp of alarm. 
The thinly scattered beach grass at the edge of some fresh-water pond 
seemed to be their favorite feeding-ground, though seen on the beach sea- 
weed twice, and again with Shore Larks in straw stubble. 
Mr. Maynard in “ The Naturalist’s Guide,” speaking of P. princeps , says, 
“ With P. savanna it cannot justly be compared, as it is much larger, and 
has a shorter and more obtuse bill.” In “ The Birds of Florida ” the 
same author says that it is “readily distinguished, .... which is due to its 
pale tints and large size.” In Baird, Brewer, and Bidgway’s “ North 
American Birds,” P. savanna is given as having the “superciliary stripe 
yellow anteriorly,” and P. princeps as having the “superciliary stripe white 
anteriorly,” and later, as having the “ bill small.” 
From a careful comparison of the specimens of P. princeps and P. sa- 
vanna that I have access to, I have come to the conclusion that princeps 
ought not to be retained as a species, but believe it is only a northern 
form of P. savanna. As to the distribution of P. savanna , we find it 
nearly throughout the United States, some passing even north to breed. 
But in this, as in other species, ^the Northern races are the larger and the 
Southern the darker, while the individual variation from any locality is 
great. 
In Eastern Massachusetts, where both princeps and savanna occur, the 
best opportunity for a comparison of their habits is offered. The breeding 
habits of princeps are unknown, but in nothing that is known do the two 
forms vary. P. savanna is among our early spring migrants, the majority 
of the birds passing north ; many, however, remain and breed. In Octo- 
ber they begin to move south, and by the 20th many are gone. At about 
this date come the princeps in small flocks, and are found with P. savanna 
on the feeding-grounds. Early in the morning flocks of six or eight 
birds are found moving along the edge of some pond, or perched in a 
clump of bushes. These flocks consist in part of savanna and in part of 
princeps , both often perching on the same twig and on good terms with 
one another. If disturbed they fly together to some other spot. During 
the first week of November the princeps arrive in force, while the savan- 
na are fast disappearing, a few scattering birds remaining till late in the 
