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 .]'an., 1915 '" "" BIRDS OF THE BOSTON MOUNTAINS, ARKANg Zonotrichia querula. Harris Sparrow. Recorded as an irregular tran- sient. Several birds were seen during the first week of May, 1913. These kept closely to brier tangles growing along a rivulet in an old orchard, and shunned the company of other sparrows. On October 24, 1913, perhaps six or eight in- dividuals came under my notice during a morning tramp, and constituted a fractional part of the motley assemblage of sparrows observed that day. Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys. White-crowned Sparrow. Large flocks were about during the first half of May, 1913, when they spread alike over field and woodland. In 1914 but two birds were noted, these appearing on l[ay 6. None were found during fall or winter. Zonotrichia albicollis. White-throated Sparrow. The advance-guard ar- rived on October 24, in 1913, and within a few days, and for a month or more thereafter, outnumbered all other species of birds combined. Perhaps five per- cent remained through the winter. Reappeared in force in. early March; it soon began to molt into the pre-nuptial plumage which was, as a rule, fully acquired before the final departure May 6. Became very secretive toward the end of its stay. Spizella monticola monticola. Tree Sparrow. A mixed flock of this spe- cies and snowbirds was found February ]6, 1914, in an open woodlan.d. Others were seen the following day. This was about the coldest period of the winter. Examples secured proved to be the eastern form, monticola. lpiella passerina passeria. Chipping Sparrow. Wherever there was evidence, past or present, of human habitation in the mountains, the "chippy" was pretty sure to be present during most of the year, being absent only in January and February. Young of the first brood were found, able to fly, May 22; and parents were observed feeding young after nest construction for a later brood was in progress. Several pairs of this sparrow nested about the farm- house where I lived. They certainly could be considered a potent factor in the success of the crops in the adjoining vegetable garden. Time and again I watched adults alone, or with young, work methodically up and down rows of vegetables, securing results at every few feet. Toward the end of summer, after the species had assembled into flocks to wander over more extensive areas, the garden growth showed plainly the lack of these leathered guardians. Spizella pusilla pusilla. Field Sparrow. Resident, but the number pres- ent during the winter months is insignificant compared with the abundance during the other seasons of the year. A goodly percentage of birds was still showing molt in October. While the western form arenacea has occurred with- in the state, examples from this region covering the year prove to be pusilla alone. Junco hiemalts hiemalts. Slate-colorec} Junco. A snowbird was detected among a flock of Field Sparrows, October 11, 1913, but it was nearly the end of the month before the species arrived in force. During the time of its pres- ence here, it proved to be the same gentle and companionable bird as in its summer home. The last individuals departed April 18. Melospiza melodia melodia. Song Sparrow. Did not arrive until freez- ing weather had been experienced. Its initial appearance was on October 23. After this date and throughout the winter, two or three birds might be found in a day's tramp, if diligently searched after; but even during the height of the spring migration this average could rarely be increased. Disappeared to- ward the end of April.