fringillidjE: finches, buntings, sparrows. 



409 



{Subgenus Coturniculus.) 



Analysis of Species. 



Tail shorter than wing, nearly even or a little double-rounded ; outstretched feet reaching to or beyond its end. Bill 

 stout, nearly as deep as long, brown. Adults not evidently streaked below. Edge of wing conspicuously yellow 



savammrum passerinus and s. peipallidus 

 Tail about equal to wing. Bill stout, nearly as deep as long, brown. Adults with sharp maxillary, pectoral and lat- 

 eral black streaks. Edge of wing yellow henslowi and h. otcidentnlis 



Tail longer than wing, graduated, with very narrow, tapering, pointed feathers. BiU slender, not nearly as deep as 

 long, bluish. Adults with sharp lateral but not ma.\illary or pectoral black streaks. Edge of wing not yeUow 



lecontei 



A. (C.) savanna'rum passeri'nus. (Lat. savannarum, of savannas, genitive plural of sa- 

 cuiina, Spanish, subcma, a meadow. Lat. passerinus, sparrow-like. Fig. 272.) Yellow- 

 winged Sparrow. Quail Sparrow. Grasshopper Sparrow. Adult ^ ?: Edge of 

 wing conspicuously yellow; lesser wing-coverts greenish-yellow; a yellow loral spot; short 

 line over eye buffy yellow. Crown with 

 median stripe of pale brownish-yellow. Be- 

 low, ochraceous or pale buff or tawny, fading 

 to whitish on belly, not evidently streaked, 

 though a few dark touches may appear on 

 sides of breast. Above, singularly vari- 

 egated with black, gray, yellowish -brown 

 and a peculiar purplish-bay, in short streaks 

 and specks ; crown nearly black with sharp 

 median brownish-yellow stripe; middle of 

 back cliietly black with bay and brownish- 

 yellow edgings of the feathers; cervical re- 

 gion and rump chiefly bay and gray. When 

 tlie feathers are not disturbed, the peculiar 

 pattern of cervical region separates tliat of 

 crown and back; the markings extend on 

 sides of neck, but sides of head are plain, 

 like under parts. Wing-coverts and inner fig. 272. - Yellow-winged Sparrow, reduced. (Shep- 



secondaries variegated in intricate pattern, pard del. Nichols sc.) 



in general effect like back. Primaries and tail-feathers plain dusky, with narrow light edg- 

 ings; outer tail-feathers paler, but not white. Feet flesh -colored. Small: Length 4.80-5.25 ; 

 extent 8.00-8.50; wing 2.25-2.50 ; tail 2.00 or less, thus shorter than wing, outstretched feet 

 reaching beyond it; rounded or rather double-rounded at end, tlie featliers narrow and lanceo- 

 late; tarsus 0.75. Bill brownish, very stout and full, culnicn about 0.40, depth at base 0.30. 

 In autumn, fresh-moulted birds are as usual richer in color, the markings more blended and 

 diffuse ; fore parts below and sides rich butt'y brown in which vague lighter and darker marl<- 

 iiigs usually appear. Young: Before moult, like the adult above, but with less of the reddisli- 

 brown and more of the buff markings; whitish below, with decided dusky maxillary and 

 pectoral streaks, thus resembling C. henslowi. Eastern U. S. and southern Canada, W. to the 

 Plains; breeds throughout its range; resident in the Southern States, elsewhere a migrant and 

 suMHiier visitant, extends in winter to some of tlic West India Islands, Mexic(), and evcMi Cen- 

 tral America. Abundant in rank licrl>iigc of old fields, but less frequently observed tlian it 

 would be did it not hide so persistently. This little Sparrow bus a curious rcscmlil;in<-(' to 

 a miniatuH! Quail, whence the subgeneric name Coturniculus, diminutive of caiiinii.r, a (piail. 

 It has a peculiar cbii-ring note, like the stridulation of a grasshopper, wliich made me give the 

 name of " Grasshopper Sparrows " to this subgeneric group. Tlie nest is built on the ground. 



