48 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVII 
where their food supply consisted largely of sour gum, dogwood and sumac 
berries. When these sources were exhausted, the birds joined with flocks of 
gold-finches in extracting the seed from the balls (peduncles) of sweet gum 
and sycamore. After the leaf buds of the ash and basswood began to swell the 
finches fed much on them up to the time of migration. The adult males left 
considerably earlier than the female and immature birds. 
Astragalinus tristis tristis. Goldfinch. Abundant resident. While never 
seeming to lack a ready food supply, this varied much with the seasons. In 
the fall, favorite food items were seeds of catmint, burdock, ragweed, etc. ; in 
winter, seeds of sweet gum and sycamore ; in spring, the unripe seeds of vari- 
ous plants. The bird is particularly fond of seeds of Compositae that ripen 
in early summer. Most of the males in the region had acquired the nuptial 
plumage by April 20. 
Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. On March 25, 1914, four were observed to 
alight in an apple tree in the yard at the farm where I stayed. A single bird 
was seen the following day feeding on the ground nearby. 
Pooecetes gramineus gramineus. Vesper Sparrow. A migratory “wave” 
of sparrows reached the mountains on March 25, 1914 ; and on that date, 1 
noted perhaps twenty-five Vesper Sparrows in a large apple orchard. Some 
of these birds were singing vigorously. They remained for about two weeks. 
Passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Savannah Sparrow. Several birds 
were observed on April 6, 1914, in company with the preceding, and in the 
same orchard. One of the birds was singing sweetly. 
Ammodramus bairdi. Baird Sparrow. On March 23, 1914, while walking 
through the orchard previously referred to, a sparrow was noted in a flock 
of snowbirds feeding in the grass. On my approach the juncos flew away, but 
the sparrow alighted in a nearby tree, where it was shot. Examination proved 
it to be as above, and a new addition to the state list. Several of the toes on 
one of the feet of this individual were malformed. 
Ammodramus savannarum australis. Grasshopper Sparrow. One bird 
collected April 4, 1914, from the grass in the orchard referred to. This consti- 
tutes the sum total of my knowledge of this sparrow in the region. There are 
few published records for it in Arkansas. 
Passerherbulus lecontei. Leconte Sparrow. Previous observers have 
recorded this sparrow from Fayetteville and Van Buren, and as AVinslow lies 
in an almost direct line between these localities, it was not surprising to find 
it there, although I believe that this is the highest altitude (2100 feet) yet 
accorded to the species. On November 29, 1913, while making my way through 
a bramble patch, a bird arose from almost under my feet, and alighted a few 
yards away, when I was able to flush and secure it. The species was not again 
met with until May 11, 1914, when a bird that I could not readily identify was 
heard to utter a series of sharp notes from among a clump of indian currant. 
It, resisted my efforts to get a clear view of it, although it was continually 
moving. So it was necessary for me to shoot it in order to name it. 
Chondestes grammacus grammacus. Lark Sparrow. A few days after 
my arrival in the region, or about April 23, 1914, happening to be standing 
near a spring in a partly wooded pasture, my attention was drawn to a bird 
walking slowly about on the ground near the edge of the water hole. It was 
easily identified as the above, and it did not attempt to fly during the few 
minutes I remained near the spot. This was at an altitude of 2100 feet. 
