LX 



Laek Spakrow; Laek Finch 

 552. Chondestes grammacus grammacus 



The Lark Sparrow is a summer resident and breeds 

 in the central part of the United States, as far east as 

 the Atlantic Coast, and nests usually on the ground, 

 laying from four to six white eggs with worm-like dark 

 brown lines. (Fig. 93.) 



In Missouri and Kansas the Lark Sparrow is one of 

 the most abundant of the birds found scattered over the 

 abandoned fields and pastures, where the grazing herds 

 are always tramping about its nest. Why every nest so 

 situated is not destroyed is almost a miracle. The Lark 

 Sparrow, is fond of man's prepared nesting-site sur- 

 roundings and often invades gardens or dooryards. Its 

 head is beautifully marked with chestnut and white lines ; 

 the general color of the bird is grayish-brown, while the 

 tail feathers are dark brown, the outermost edged with 

 white and others more or less tipped with white. 



Lark Sparrows are said to make good cage singers, 

 but I am pleased to state that I have never seen or heard 

 these birds behind prison bars, and I sincerely trust that 

 I may always witness their freedom limited only by the 

 big out-of-doors. Goss, in his Birds of Kansas, says: 

 ''Their harmless ways and rich clear, varied song, un- 

 surpassed in continuity and melody by any of the family, 

 make their presence welcome." 



One day while I was walking across a pasture a little 

 six-inch bird flew from beneath my footsteps. I paused, 

 and directly under my feet was a Lark Sparrow's nest 

 containing four white eggs with dark markings. I set 

 my camera on the tripod over the nest, made a picture of 

 it and attached a string to the shutter release and retired 

 twenty feet to await the incubating bird's return. I did 

 not have to wait long, as the female was evidently so far 

 advanced in her hatching task that a delay in returning 

 would mean the spoiling of her labors. She posed for me 

 nicely, and actually remained on the nest while I changed 

 plates and made several exposures. (Fig. 94.) 



174 



