5o8 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



week earlier than the Savanna sparrow arrived. They run along- 

 among the grasses rather than take flight. The song is a low un- 

 attractive s-e-e-t-s-k, emitted either from the ground or from an 

 elevation. They feed about the margin of pools of still water where 

 they seem to procure aquatic insects and grass seeds. Their colours 

 blend most perfectly with such surroundings and it is only by per- 

 servering watchfulness that an observer may see them, unless they 

 happen to take flight. The nests are built back from the water 

 where there is no danger from an overflow and are fairly well con- 

 cealed. The few nests observed have been built of dried grass 

 blades throughout, the lining being composed of the finest material. 

 One nest was a mere film of blades, scarce compact enough to lift 

 from the depression where it was placed. It was built under the 

 side of a log and contained five eggs which were very uniformly 

 marked, there being three distinct varieties of colouring. A set now 

 before the writer, taken May 27th, contains four eggs, .71 x .59, 

 . 80 X .58, . 72 X .60, . 72 X . 59. The ground colour is pale greenish- 

 blue marked with cinnamon-brown, umber and blue-gray. The 

 first, third and fourth are so heavily marked as to obscure the 

 ground colour, the second is much more finely and sparsely marked, 

 and with the third most heavily marked about the large end. The 

 nest was placed in a gully having a southern exposure, and was also 

 well concealed by thick grasses. While the writer was walking 

 across an island the bird flushed from under foot and flew quietly 

 away without making the least attempt at alluring its disturber 

 from the vicinity of the nest, nor did it return for some time. The 

 male was not seen at all. The eggs were fresh, which fact probably 

 accounted for the shyness of the birds. (W. H. Moore.) 



CCXXV. CHONDESTES Swainson. 1827. 



552. Lark Sparrow. 



Chondestes grammacus (Say) Bonap. 1838. 



One seen on Sable island, N.S. on September 6th, 1902, and a 

 number on October loth. (/. Boutelier.) 



This bird breeds regularly at Toronto; a nest was taken at the 

 Humber, May 15th, 1899; it is very local and not abundant. (/, H. 

 Fleming.) The first time I saw one of these birds taken at Toronto 



