470 HISTORY OF THE 



Sp. Char. '■'■Adult: Ground color of upper parts grayish ash; the middle 

 portion of each feather dull brown (in the form of a blotch), aud with a black 

 shaft streak, the latter becoming modified on scapulars, rump and upper tail 

 coverts into transverse spots, those on the upper tail coverts being large and 

 conspicuous and in the form of crescentic spots, the terminal margin of the 

 feathers being lighter ashy, in sharp contrast. Middle tail feathers clear ashy, 

 ■with a sharply-defined shaft streak of blackish, throwing otf obsolete, narrow, 

 transverse bars toward the edge; rest of tail clear dusky brown, the lateral 

 feathers (with whole outer web and margin of inner) dull white; all (except the 

 intermediate) with a large, abruptly-defined, terminal space of dilute brown (de- 

 creasing in size from the outer), the margin whitish. Upper secondaries broadly 

 aud sharply margined along both edges with didl ashy white, the enclosed por- 

 tion being clear dusky brown, intensified where adjoining the whitish. A very 

 obsolete superciliary stripe of ashy, becoming whitish over the lores; auriculars 

 more dingy, but without distinct stripe along upper edge. An uninterrupted but 

 indistinct 'bridle' along sides of throat. Lower parts dull white, without any 

 ochraceous, but with a very faint ashy tinge over the jugulum; flanks with broad, 

 somewhat blended streaks of mixed brownish and dusky. Bend of wing edged 

 with light yellow. Young: Very similar, but with a few tirop-shaped streaks 

 of dark brown on the jugulum and along sides. The feathers above have a more 

 appreciable terminal border of buff." 



Iris brown; bill — upper dusky, with edges and under man- 

 dible bluish white, paler at base; legs and feet flesh color; claws 

 pale brown. 



This plain, bleached bird frequents the barren spots and sandy 

 lands, dotted here and there with low, stunted bushes, bunch 

 grass or cactus. It is very shy and retiring in its habits, and 

 when approached darts from bush to bush, or runs, skulks and 

 hides like mice, and it is no easy matter to flush it from its hid- 

 ing place. It is a restless, active bird, and one of the sweetest 

 songsters of the plains. It occasionally sings from a perch, but 

 usually in the air, rising on quivering wings some twenty feet or 

 more, hovering for a moment in mid air, then slowly dropping 

 back with outstretched legs and tail, timing it so as to alight as 

 the last note is uttered. I have heard them sing at night, and 

 in the middle of the day, when the rays of the sufi were scorch- 

 ing hot, and other birds had fled to shelter. 



Their nests are placed on the ground or in shrubby bushes not 



