192 Trans. Acad. Set. of St. Louis. 



in the flood plain of the Mississippi River. A few remain in 

 winter north of the Missouri River, more in southern Missouri, 

 especially the southeast. According to some observers the 

 species is also a rare breeder north of the Missouri River. Mr. 

 Philo W. Smith, Jr. , reports that he found a nest with young, June 2, 

 1905, near Maple Lake in St. Charles Co., and Mr. E. M. Parker 

 has found it nesting near Montgomery City. Mr. E. S. Currier 

 thinks a few nested at Sand Ridge near Wayland, Clark Co., 

 Mo. W. E. D. Scott also says it possibly breeds at Warrensburg 

 where he took some as late as May 25, 1874. Trippe writes: 

 "Breeds in small numbers in Decatur Co., la.," (the border 

 county north of central Missouri). As is the case with several 

 other species of sparrows wintering in the southern states, 

 migration commences in an undecided way, some advancing in 

 short steps toward the breeding grounds in the north as soon as 

 absence of snow and ice allows. In some years this is possible 

 at the end of February, in others nearly a month later, but the 

 middle of March may be taken as the average time for the first 

 arrival of small troops of transient Swamp Sparrows in the 

 vicinity of St. Louis and a week later in the marshes of Clark Co. 

 in the northeast corner of the state. The bulk of the species 

 leaves southeast Missouri about the middle of April, is present 

 in the central part from April 10 to 20, and at the northern border 

 from April 16 to 26. The last ones are sometimes noted in the 

 last week of April, but just as often in the first week of May, 

 less commonly later (May 11, 1882 and 1886, St. Louis; May 

 13, 1907, Shannon Co, Woodruff; May 23, 1899, and May 27, 

 1901, Keokuk). September 27 is the first day when transients 

 were observed in central Missouri and October 1, 1886, in Law- 

 rence Co., southwest Missouri. The earliest date at Keokuk, 

 reported by Mr. Currier, is September 11, 1894, the next earliest 

 September 26, 1899. The bulk enters the state about October 

 10, has spread over central and western Missouri by the middle 

 of the month and remains to the end or to the first week of No- 

 vember. After the middle of November winter numbers only 

 are left. 



585. Passerella iliaca (Merr.). Fox Sparrow. 



FringUla iliaca. FringUla ferruginea. Zonotrichia iliaca. Fringilla ruja. 



Geog. Dist. — Eastern North America, north to Newfoundland, 

 Anticosti, southern Labrador, northwestward to Alaska. Breeds 



