SPIZELLA PALLIDA, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. 149 



Allen, Ball. M. C. Z. iii, 1872, 177.— Trippe, Pr. Bost. Soc. 1872, 237 (Iowa).— 

 CouES, Key, 1872, 143.— Sxow, B. Kans. 1873, 7.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874. 

 11, pi. 27, f. 3. 



S2n*ntes paUidus, Cab., Mus. Hein. i, 1851, 133. 



Zoiiotriehia {Si)heUa) jxdlkla, Gray, Hand-list, No. 7400. 



Emherha shattuckii, AuD., B. Am. vii, 1843, 347, pi. 493. 



Sj)i;eUa shattuclii, Bp., Cousp. i, 1850, 480. 



Hah. — From the Saskatchewan and Upper Mis.souri to Eastern Kansas. To Texas 

 {Baird). East into Iowa (T/v'^j^jf), Wisconsin {Hoi/), and Illinois (Holdeit). 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — No. , Cheyenne River; 4803, "Nebraska;" 



4804, Bijoux Hills; 5414, Blackfoot country. 



Not obtained by Captain Raynolds' Expedition. 



The typical form of this species appears to be one of the more char- 

 acteristic birds of the high central plains. It was originally described 

 by Swainson from the region of the Saskatchewan. Br. Richardson 

 says that it was very abnndant at Carlton Honse, and as familiar as the 

 Chipping is in the Eastern States. Andubon's acconnt of '■'■ Emheriza 

 pallida.'^ presents nothing incompatible with the typical form ; bnt the 

 specimens, on which his description was based, procured by Townseiid 

 in the " Rocky Mountains," and now in the Smithsonian, have been iden- 

 tified by Prof. Baird with brewer i, which renders it necessary to turn 

 ^^paUida, Atjd.," over to the latter variety, although indeed his quota- 

 tions, and the habitat he assigns, are those of true 2)allida. He after- 

 ward described the typical Missouri bird as U. shattucMi, giving the 

 following account : 



"This handsome little species is found quite abundant throughout the 

 country bordering on the Upper Missouri. It inhabits with particular 

 partiality the small valleys found here and there along the numerous 

 ravines runnings from the interior, and between such hills as I have al- 

 ready mentioned. Its usual demeanor resembles much that of the 

 Chipping Bunting, Emherha socialis of Wilson, and like it, ifc spends 

 much of its time in singing its monot^nous ditties, while its mate is en- 

 gaged in the pleasing task of incubation. When approached, it will 

 dive and conceal itself either amid the low bushes around, or will seek 

 a large cluster of wild roses, so abundant in that section of country, 

 and the fragrance of which will reach the olfactory nerve of the trav- 

 eler or gunner for many paces. 



"The nest of the Shattuck Bunting is usually placed on a small hori- 

 zontal branch, seven or eight feet from the ground; and 1 believe it is 

 occasionally placed in the broken and hollow branches of trees. The 

 eggs, four or five in number, are blue, spotted with reddish-brown to- 

 ward the large eud, and placed in a nest so slightly Ibrmed of slender 

 grasses, circularly lined with horse or cattle hair, as to resemble as much 

 as i)Os.sible the nest of the species to which it is allied." These observa- 

 tions ditfer somewhat from my own, given beyond. 



I found this bird in small numbers on the Republican Fork of the 

 Kansas River, near Fort Riley, in May, frequenting shrubbery along 

 the stream, and also open, weedy places away from the water ; but 1 

 noticed nothing peculiar in its manners, which were the same as those 

 of the Chip-bird. Mr. Allen found it common at Topeka, in the .same 

 State, associating there with >S'. .socmZ/.s'. He also quotes ";w///Wa" from 

 Utah ; bnt as he does not recognize the distinction of var. hrciccri, his 

 observations undoubtedly refer to the latter. 



The eastward extension of iS'. pxUida has only been of late generally 

 recognized: it seems to corresi)ond somewhat with that ot Virco hclli. 

 In Iowa, according to ^Iv. Trippe, it is common in spring; "frequents 

 the thickets and copses along the margins of the woods, and has some- 



