260 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



of under piirts whito. Lpneth, S.GO; wine. 2.70; tnll. 2.in. Vonuo. Oround-color of tho 

 ilPPiT piirts (I'xccpt wines nnd tiiiH IIkIiI oi-hruoeouM. mon- lirowuUli on top nf hoiul, 

 upper part of biiok.and on upper t<iil-rovcrl«. Ilio strookh blii^ker and mop' oonspI'Miouti 

 than in llio udult. Bi-neutli with iin ochniriM>ii» tinne antoriorly. tho streako broad<-r ami 

 dnepor lihick than in tho adult. though I^sh sharply dcflned. Tho Infra-maxillar)' filroiik 

 expanded Into a broad, blacklBb olungatcd blotoh." (//i»(. -Y. .1 m. li.) 



The Savanna Sparrow is one of those inconspicuous httle birds 

 which hide in the grass or nm stealthily along the fences or fur- 

 rows, having nothing special in their appearance or habits to attract 

 particular attention. It is a vei7 abundant species, at suitable 

 seasons, throughout the eastern portions of North America, breed- 

 ing in the more northern states and northward, and winteruig in 

 the more southern portions of the Union. In portions of Ilhnois 

 the species is, to a greater or less extent, a peniiancnt resident. 

 At least, the wi-iter has in summer taken its nest and eggs, and 

 in midwinter shot specimens of the bird itself, at Mount Carmel. 

 It was, however, very rare there in summer, and, except in mild 

 seasons, by no means common m winter, being cliiefly observed as 

 a spring and fall migrant. 



The general habits of the Savanna Sparrow are very similar to 

 those of the Vesper Sparrow, — like the latter, frequenting meadows 

 and nesting on the ground. 



Genus POOCiETES B.urd. 



Poocwlff Baibp, Birds N. .\m. 18.VS. 447. Typo, yi-ingilla gratninea Gmei,. 



"Gen. Char. Bill rather larce; upper outline slightly deeurved towanls the end, 

 lower straight; eommissuro slichtly coneave. Tarsus about equal to the midille too: 

 outer toe a little longer than till' inner, its claw roaehing to the eoneenled base of the 

 middle claw: hind too reaehing to the middle of the middle elaw. Wings usually long, 

 reaching to the middle of tho tail as far as the coverts, and pointed; thi' primaries eou- 

 slderably longer than the secondaries, which are not much surpas.sed by the terliaries; 

 second and third tiuills longest; first little shorter, about equal tothi> fourth, shorter than 

 tho tail; the outer tail-feathers scari'oly shorter; the feathers rather stiff: ea<di one ac<i- 

 ininateand sharply pointed; the feathers broail nearly to the end. when they are obliquely 

 truncate. Streaked with brown aliove everywhere: beneath, on the bri'ast and sidi'S. 

 The lateral tail-feather is white. Shoulder ehestnut-brown." 



"The essential characters of the genus consist in the long and 

 pointed wings longer than the tail and without long tertials ; and 

 the rather stiflf forked fnil, witli its aoiite feathers." {Ilisl. S. 

 Am. B.) 



