354 Birds of Colorado 



Distribution. — The great plains of Xorth America, breeding from 

 north-west Nebraska northwards to Saskatchewan ; in winter south 

 through Texas and south-west through New Mexico and Arizona to 

 north-west Mexico. 



In Colorado McCown's Longspur is most common on migration on the 

 eastern plains, and is also an irregular winter visitor. It has not been 

 met with in the mountains or to the west. It has frequently been 

 stated that it breeds in Colorado, but, so far as I know, there are no 

 authentic records of its doing so, though there is no reason why it 

 should not. 



The records of its occurrence are few, viz. : Arkansas Valley 

 in winter (Trippe), El Paso co., February (Aiken), May 

 (Allen & Brewster), near Springfield, Baca co., April until 26th 

 (Warren 06). 



Habits. — This Longspur has much the same habits as 

 the Chestnut-collared, and is often found in association 

 with it ; in flocks of considerable size it frequents dry, 

 high country, where the grass is short, and where it 

 roams about in search of food ; as a rule when flushed 

 it flies only a short distance with a circling, wavy flight. 

 The nest is placed on the ground in the open ; it is loosely 

 constructed of dry grass and lined N^dth finer materials, 

 often hair or feathers. The eggs, three to six in number, 

 are dull greenish to olive-white, speckled and spotted 

 with varying shades of reddish-brown to black. 



Genus POCECETES. 



Medium-sized Sparrow-like birds, with moderate bills, the upper 

 mandible very distinctly deeper than the lower ; nostrils exposed ; 

 wings fairly long and pointed, but the difference between the primaries 

 and secondaries less than the length of the tarsus ; tail slightly emar- 

 ginate, with the lateral tail-feathers white, and about -75 length of 

 wing ; tarsus stout, hind claw normal not straight, less than the length 

 of its toe ; plumage streaked above and across the breast ; no yellow 

 or red. 



This genus contains one species, consisting of three recognizable 

 races, spread over temperate North America. 



The following is a key to the Colorado Grass-Sparrows contained in 

 this and the next four genera, which are somewhat difficult of dis- 

 crimination. 



