CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS, 499 



brown. {G. R. White.) The nesting season at Scotch Lake, York 

 CO., N.B., is from May to July. Three to five eggs are laid in a 

 loosely constructed nest of grasses on the ground, or sometimes by 

 the side of a log or root. {W. H. Moore.) Quite common at Ot- 

 tawa and Lake Nominingue. Nest sunken in the ground and 

 hidden by the grass, made with grasses, rootlets and hairs. Some- 

 times only two or three bits of grass and hair are used. One nest 

 was found in sand under a potato plant. It nests in May, June 

 and July and lays four eggs. (Garneau.) July 7, 1903, saw three 

 nests on the west coast of James bay, one with four young just 

 hatched, one with both young and eggs and one with six eggs. All 

 the nests were made of dry grass and were in the short grass just 

 above high-water mark, (Spreadborough.) 



5426. Western Savanna Sparrow. 



Passerculus sandwichensis alaudiniis (Bonap.) Ridgw. 1877. 



Breeds in profusion throughout the region explored, that is along* 

 the 49th parallel. Though not exclusively a bird of the prairie, 

 it seems to be as much at home in the open plains as anywhere, 

 associating with Centronyx, the chestnut-collared and McCown's 

 longspurs. It is also found in the brush along streams and the 

 larger rivers which are not frequented by the above species. {Coues.) 

 An abundant summer resident on the prairies in Manitoba. The 

 bird is remarkably shy, even in places where man is scarcely ever 

 seen. {E. T. Seton.) Tolerably common at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) 

 Breeds abundantly in open country everywhere in Manitoba and 

 west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) First seen May nth, 1892, 

 at Indian Head, Sask., common by May 13th; they breed in the 

 vicinity in great numbers; common at Crane lake, Sask., seemed 

 to prefer low ground where there were bushes; quite common on 

 the east end of the Cypress hills the last week in June, 1894, in low 

 damp ground ; in 1895, its habits were more carefully observed 

 and it was found that it was always by pools of water or in marshes ' 

 at West Selkirk, Brandon, Moose Jaw, Parkbeg and Old Wives creek. 

 It was found nesting at 12 -Mile lake, near Wood mountain, and 

 always in marshy spots ; this species was noted wherever there 

 was water or marsh for 400 miles to the westward — to the foothills 

 of the Rocky mountains. (Macoun.) First seen at Edmonton, 

 Alta., May 3rd, 1897, next day they were common; two nests were 

 32>^ 



