FRINGILLWM: FINCHES, BUNTINGS, SPARROWS. 



407 



Fig. 271. — Western Savanna Sparrow. 



States southward, and breeds at least from New England and other northern States to Lab- 

 rador and the region of Hudson's Bay. Nest sunken in ground, flush with surface, of a few 

 grasses and weed-stalks; eggs 4-G, 0.70 X 0.50, bluish-white, spotted with brown, varying 

 interminably in their motley coloring ; often heavily clouded and blotched with dark brown; 

 most like those of Pocecetes, but smaller. 



P. s. alaudi'nus. (Lat. alaudinus, lark-like; no applicability. Fig. 271.) Western 

 Savanna Sparrow. So similar to the last as only to be distinguislied by rather duller and 

 paler coloration on an average, and weaker bill, about 

 0.35 long by 0.20 deep at the base. If the " savanna 

 sparrow " be split into several races, this may possibly 

 be allowed with the rest. Western N. Am. from tlie 

 Great Plains to the Pacific and Arctic Oceans. 

 P. s. bry'unti. (To W. E. Bryant.) Bryant's 

 Marsh Sparrow. A form from the marshes of the 

 California coast from San Francisco southward. Bill as 

 long as that of savanna, but slenderer ; general coloration 

 darker; under parts more sharply, darkly, and exten- 

 sively streaked ; yellow eyebrc>w and bend of wing quite 

 as well marked as in savanna, and whole head sometimes 

 suffused with yellowish. This general heaviness of col- 

 oration contrasts with the paler and grayer alaudinus of 

 the West ; but is not very different from some specimens of true savanna ; the size averages 

 about the minimum of the latter. This is P. s. anthinus of earlier eds. of the Key — a name 

 which has proved inapplicable. P. s. hryanti Eidgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. vii, Jan. 1885, 

 !>. 517, and A. s. hryanti Id. ibid, viii, 1885, p. 354; A. O. U. List, 2d ed. 1896, No. 542 c. 

 P. bel'dingi. (To L. Beldiug.) Belding's Marsh Sparrow. Similar to the last, but 

 apparently specifically different in lack of distinct median and superciliary stripes, decidedly 

 streaked under tail-coverts, and general dark coloration, being more heavily streaked with 

 black above and with dusky below; wings and tail rather shorter; bill comparatively larger. 

 Length about 5.00 ; wing 2.60 ; tail 2.00 ; bill 0.45 ; tarsus 0.80. Salt marshes of the Pacific 

 coast from Santa Barbara southward to Todos Santos Island, Lower California. Nest of grass, 

 in the grass, usually lined with hairs ; eggs 4, pale bluish, irregularly marked with different 

 shades of brown, laid in April. Not in earlier eds. of the Key. P. heldingi Ridgw. Pr. 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. vii, Jan. 1885, p. 516; Ammodramus heldinrji Id. ibid, viii, 1885, p. 354; 

 A. 0. U. List, 2d ed. 1895, No. 543. 



P. rostra'tus. (Lat. rostrattts, beaked ; rostrum, beak. Large-billed Sparrow. Beaked 

 Sparrow. San Diego Sparrow. Seashore Sparrow. With the form of a Savanna, 

 but bill elongated as in Ammodramus, yet very stout and turgid, with decidedly convex cul- 

 men 0.50 long. No yellowish over eye or on edge of wing; no evident median stripe ou 

 crown. Brownish-gray, obsoletely streaked with dark brown, most noticeable on crown and 

 middle of back; entii-e under parts dull white, confluently streaked with clear brown every- 

 where except on tliroat, middle of belly, and crissum. Wings and tail dusky gray ; rectrices 

 with paler edges, primaries with whitish edges, wing-coverts and secondaries broadly edged 

 and tipped with grayi.sh-bay. An obscure whitish superciliary line. Bill light brown, under 

 mandible i)alpr or yellowish; legs pale. Length 5.25; wing 2.50-2.75; tail 2.00. Pacific 

 coast of Southei-n and Lower California and N. W. parts of Mexico ; a curious species, com- 

 mon, maritime, representing, like the two foreg()ing, the Ammodrami in the marshes of the 

 Pacific seashore. Emheriza rostrnta Cass. 1852 ; Ammodramus rostratus Cass. 111. 1855, 

 p. 226, pi. .38; A. (Passerculus) rostratus A. O. U. Lists, 1886 and 1895, No. 544; Passer- 

 culus rostratus of all eds. of the Key, 1872-90. 



