258 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



have the narrow stripe of C. henslowi, the bill is much smaller, as 

 stated by Audubon, than in the others, and is distinctly bluish. 

 The vertical stripe is deep buff anteriorly, instead of buff through- 

 out,' and the superciliary stripe is continuously buff, instead of 

 yellow anterior to, and ashy behind, the eye. In the comparative 

 length of wing and tail, it is most nearly related to hcnsloici, but 

 the bill is very much narrower than in either. 



This elegant little sparrow is, in some localities at least, an abund- 

 ant migrant in Illinois. In the latter part of October, 1882, I found 

 it numerous in meadows on Sugar Creek Prairie, Richland county, 

 in company with C. hensloici, but preferring the rank grass near 

 streams. It resembled the latter species in its actions, being diffi- 

 cult to flush and flying in a very zigzag manner, but was readily 

 distinguished by its more slender build and conspicuously lighter or 

 more ochraceous coloration. But few specimens have as yet been 

 taken in the northeastern portion of the State. Mr. Nelson, in his 

 catalogue, mentions it as follows : 



"A rare migrant. I obtained a fine specimen May 13, 1875, at 

 Eiverdale, Illinois, and by my notes I see that a second specimen 

 was observed the 21st of the same month near where the first was 

 obtained. The specimen in my possession was flushed from a small 

 depression in the prairie near the Calumet river, where the moisture 

 had caused an early growth of coarse grass, about three inches in 

 height. After darting off in an erratic course a few rods, it sud- 

 denly turned, and alighting ran rapidly through the grass, from 

 which it was with difficulty started again and secured." 



Mr. Chas. K. Worthen, of Warsaw, writes me as follows concern- 

 ing this species : 



"I have taken in the last two years, on the prairie here, some 

 twenty specimens ; have taken them both in fall and spring, as well 

 as during the summer, and am satisfied they breed here, though I 

 have not been able to find their nests or eggs. I have found them 

 on low swampy prairies in the Mississippi bottoms, and on dry 

 bluffs; but generally in swampy or marshy ground." (See "Nuttall 

 Bulletin," January, 1880, p. 32.) 



SUBGENUS Passerculus BONAPARTE. 



BONAP. Comp. List Birds, 1838 33. Type, Frhnjilla savanna WiLS. 



"GiCN. CHAB. Bill moderately conical; the lower mandible smaller; both outlines 

 nearly straight. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe. Lateral toes about equal, thrir 



