FINCIIES, SPARROWS, ETC. 315 
     
    
   
   
    
     Nest, similar to that of I’. (ya/Iva, in bushes or low trees. [ill/{[3, three to 
     
     four, white or bluish white, with nmnerous chestnut or rulhus-brown mark— 
     
     ings, '75 x '56. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Mr. Maynard found this species in southern Florida in January, but 
     
     it does not migrate northward until about May 1. He writes that it 
     
     “ is always shy and retiring, seldom appearing in the open, but remain- 
     
     ing in the dense. thorny undergrowth which covers all waste places in 
     
     Florida, especially if the soil has been cultivated. Whenever the birds 
     
     perceive an intruder they retire into the depths of these fastnesses. and 
     
     it requires considerable heating to drive them out. when they at once 
     
     dart into the nearest cover. The adult males are especially shy, and 
     
     seldom show themselves. Even while singing they remained concealed, 
     
     and, although we were thus furnished with a elew to their whereabouts, 
     
     it was with the utmost difficulty that we caught sight of the authors 
     
     of the harmonious strains which nearly always greeted our ears when 
     
     we were in the vicinity of their homes” (Birds of Eastern North 
     
    
   
   
    
     America.) 
     
     “Their notes very much resemble those of the Indigo—bird. but 
     
     lack their energy and are more feeble and concise” (15., 13., and R.). 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Gmssorrr (605. Eat/their: b/rolnr) and the Mrzmmorvs GRASSQI‘IT 
     
     (603.1. 12'. car/um), West Indian species, have each been recorded once from 
     
     the Florida Keys. 
     
    
   
   
    
     604. Spiza, americana. (011161.). DICKt‘ISSl—ZI.; BI..\(‘K-TI(R(>ATED 
     
     Bl'NTING. Ar]. 5 .—1lead and sides of the neck ashy gray; forehead tinged 
     
     with yellow; :1 yellow line over the 
     
     eye and one on the side of the 
     
     throat; a black patch on the throat; 
     
     ehin white; breast yellow. spread— 
     
     ing down on to the white belly; 
     
     hack streaked with black and pale 
     
     grayish brown; rump brownish 
     
     ash; lesser wineneeverts rut'ous; 
     
     wings and tail t'useous. Ad. 9.— 
     
     Similar, but the head grayish 
     
     brown, streaked with blackish. and 
     
     with no blaek pateh on the throat 
     
     and less yellow on the breast. which is sometimes lightly streaked with 
     
     black. An]. in ,fu/l. —.\iuch brighter. and with some rut'ous in the bark. l... 
     
     6-00; w., 3w; '1‘.. 23.3; It, 5.». 
     
    

    
     [fang/ail‘hlstern linited States. mostly in the Mississippi Vallev 
     
     from Texas to Minnesota; winters in t'n-ntral and South Anu-riva 
     
     east of the .'\lll*;,{hanies now only rarely and locally. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Fm. 88.—:Diekeissel. (Natural size) 
     
    
   
   
    
     ; breeds 
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
     , breeds 
     
    
   
   
    
     Washington, very rare S. l{., a few seen each year; formerly “ verv abun— 
     
     dant.” (i'ambridge. casual. found nesting at Medf'ord. June 0. 1877, where