788 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 part 2 



longleaf pine flatwoods, where it lives on the damp ground in the 

 wire-grass {Aristida stricta), which grows thickly in the wet acid soil 

 in clearings and where the tree growth is sparse, providing the birds 

 ideal cover. Francis Weston wrote Hyde (1939) that "the birds 

 are so difficult to flush in their winter home that it is very hard 

 accui'ately to judge their abundance." 



Imhof (1962) writes: "North of the Fall Line in Alabama, this 

 sparrow is rare in winter and on migration. In the Coastal Plain it 

 is uncommon in winter but undoubtedly more numerous than re- 

 corded because it is difficult to flush and identify. * * * The species 

 frequents weedy, rank growths like other sharp-tailed sparrows, but 

 also occurs in open, wet, shrubby areas. On or near the coast, it usually 

 Hves in broomsedge or other grasses in boggy places in the pine flats." 



In Louisiana, George Lowery (1955) says "it is often found in the 

 same broom sedge situations [as the LeConte's sparrow! but it appears 

 to be less numerous there. It is most common in the grass of the 

 'pine flats' particularly in the Florida Parishes. * * * Henslow 

 Sparrows arrive in Louisiana in late October. They are usually gone 

 by the end of March." 



Distribution 



Range. — Eastern South Dakota, Wisconsin, and southern Ontario 

 south to Texas and the Gulf Coast. 



Breeding range. — The western Henslow's sparrow breeds from 

 eastern South Dakota (Moody County), central Minnesota (Grant 

 and Isanti counties), southern and northeastern Wisconsin (Dane 

 and Oconto counties), casually north to central Michigan (Mackinaw 

 City) and southern Ontario (Barrie, Carlsbad Springs) south to 

 central Kansas (Cloud County), northeastern Texas, Central Mis- 

 somi (Hickory and St. Louis counties), southern Illinois (liichland 

 County), northern Kentucky (Jefferson County), and central southern 

 West Virginia (Monroe County). 



Winter range. — Winters from north central Texas, Louisiana 

 (Monroe, New Orleans), and southern Mississippi (Saucier) to western 

 and northern Florida (Eau Gallic), southeastern Georgia (Tifton, 

 Sapelo Island), and South Carolina (Chester, Aiken, and Charleston coun- 

 ties); casually in southern Illinois and southern Indiana (Jackson County). 



Casual records. — Casual in northwestern North Dakota (Kenmare). 

 Accidental in Massachusetts (Osterville) . 



Egg dates. — lUinois: 20 records. May 20 to July 4; 10 records, June 

 19 to June 26. 



Iowa: 9 records, May 18 to June 29. 



Michigan: 30 records, May 28 to August 16. 



Missouri: 1 record, May 26. 



Ontario : 2 records, both August 14. 



Wisconsin: 4 records, May 23 to June 12. 



