FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 335 



sides finely streaked, flanks more broadly ; sides of head buffy white, with 

 a touch of yellow above the eye ; two narrow black stripes from bill, and 

 one back of eve ; shoulders tinged with g-reenish yellow and bend of wing 

 yellowish white. Length : (skins) 4.50-4.59, wing- 2.12-2.18, tail 1.88-1.90, 

 bill .4.5-.48. 



Distribution. — South Dakota in summer, and probably other reg'ions 

 along- the eastern border of the Plains. 



548. Ammodramus leconteii (J«^/.). Leconte Sparrow. 



Adults. — Crown with two blackish stripes in sharp contrast to buffy 

 and grayish median stripe ; sides of head and superciliary buffy or yellow- 

 ish brown ; hind neck chestnut, feathers edged with g-rayish ; rest of upper 

 parts broAvnish, marked strikingly with blackish and buffy, the feathers 

 black, notched with grayish, with rufous and buffy cream U-shaped 

 edging-s ; throat, breast, and sides buffy ; belly white ; sides and flanks 

 streaked ; bill small and slender ; tail graduated. Young : much more 

 buffy, deeper above, paler beneath, body streaked with blackish, more 

 narrowly on under parts. Male : length (skins) 4.15-4.74, wing- 1.94-2.12, 

 tail 1.81-2.05, bill .:]o-.40. Female: length (skins) 4.35-5.00, wing 1.93- 

 2.10, tail 1.83-2.20, bill .33-.3'.). 



Distribution. — Breeds in prairie marshes of Transition and Upper 

 Sonoran zones, from Assiniboia and Manitoba southeast to Indiana ; win- 

 ters in the southern states ; accidental in Idaho. 



Nest. — Near the ground in dense fallen grass, made of grass, cup- 

 shaped. Eggs : 4 or 5, pale greenish white, heavily spotted with reddish 

 brown and lavender. 



Subgenus Ammodramus. 



Tail rounded, feathers sharp pointed ; Aving short and 

 rounded, secondaries nearly even. 



Fig. 424. 



649.1. Ammodramus nelsoni (Alleyi). Nelson Sparrow. 



Afiults. — .Superciliary bright l)uff. sharply contrasting with dark brown 

 or blackish sides of crown ; middle of crown, back of head, and hind neck 

 gray, more or less mixed with rusty ; middle of back dark brown, strikitigly 

 marked with r/ialki/ white .streaks ; edge of wing yellow ; tail rounded ; 

 under parts white, sides of tliroat, chest, and .sides wa.shed with buffy or 

 yelhnvish brown, and indistinctly sti-eaked with darker. Young : upper 

 parts dull yellowish l)ro\vn ; sides of crown chiefly black ; back broadly 

 streaked with black : under jjarts buff, streaked on chest with du.skv. 

 Male: lengtli (skins) 4..50-4.90, wing 2.10-2.4S.. tail l.SO-2.07, bill .40-.4*2. 

 Female: length (skins) 4.40-4.SO, wing 2.05-2.20. tail 1.70-1.90. bill .4(>- 

 .42. 



Distribution. — Breeds in ])rairie marshes of the interior from Manitoba 

 to northfni Illinois : migrates to the Atlantic coast, and wintei's south to 

 Gulf coast of Tfxas; accidental in California. 



Eggs. — .Similar to tliose of leronteii. 



Food. — Insects, especially leaf-hoppers, midges, and hoi-seflies, together 

 with weed seed. 



550b. Ammodramus maritimus sennetti .Uln,. Tkxas 

 Skasidk Si-akkow. 

 Adults. — Upper parts olivf gr.iy. streaked witli black and whitish ; lores 

 and edge of wing bright yellow ; throat white ; rest of under p.irts grayish 



