BIRDS OF KANSAS. 473 



Melospiza lincolni (Aud.). 



LINCOLN'S SPARROW. 

 PLATE XXIX. 



Migratory; common. Arrive in April to first of May; return 

 in October. 



B. 368. K. 234. C. 24-2. G. 116, 236. U. 583. 



Habitat. North America at large; breeding from tlie north- 

 ern border of the United States, and high mountain ranges 

 south, to far north into the Arctic regions; in winter, south to 

 Panama. 



Sp. Chak. "General aspect above that of M. fasciata, but paler and less 

 reddish. Crown dull chestnut, with a median and lateral or superciliary ash- 

 colored stripe; each feather above streaked centrally with black. Back with 

 narrow streaks of black. Beneath white, with a maxillary stripe curving round 

 behind the ear coverts; a well-defined band across the breast, extending down 

 the sides, and the under tail coverts, brownish yellow. The maxillary stripe 

 margined above aud below with lines of black spots, and a dusky line behind the 

 eye. The throat, upper part of breast and sides of the body with streaks of 

 black, smallest in the middle of the former. The pectoral bands are sometimes 

 paler." 



stretch of 

 Length. wing. Whig. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 5.65 8.45 2.50 2.40 .78 .43 



Female... 5.30 7.10 2.35 2.20 .78 .43 



Iris brown; bill — upper dusky, under bluish, with base yel- 

 lowish; legs and feet light yellowish brown; claws pale brown. 



This widely-distributed species frequents the low, bushy, 

 weedy lands and banks of streams. A rather silent, retiring 

 bird, that darts into cover at the first alarm; and, as it hunts for 

 seeds, insect life, etc., on or near the ground, it is seldom no- 

 ticed, and often reported rare in localities wliere it is quite com- 

 mon. Its feeble. Sparrow-like chirp is rarely ever heard, except 

 when startled. I had the pleasure of listening to its song, 

 uttered from the top of small aspen trees or bushes, near the 

 timber line, on Mount Baldy, Colorado; a low and rather pro- 

 longed song, but lively, musical and varied. It was late in the 

 month of June, and I am confident that tlie birds were breeding 

 there, but was unable to find a nest or their young. Mr. Oliver 

 Davie, in "ISTests and Eggs of North American Birds," says: 



"Mr. Norris has two sets of the eggs of Lincoln's Sparrow, 

 taken in Boulder county, Colorado, on June 22d and July 18th, 



