Open Nests on the Ground 



583. Lincoln's Sparrow: Melospiza lincolni (Aud.) 



Eggs greenish white or brownish white spotted and blotched 

 with lavender and chestnut or brown, more thickly at the larger 

 end. 



See Page 62, Chapter II. 



604. Dickcissel; Black-throated Bunting^: Spiza 

 americana (Gmel.) 



Ai/u// $ — Forehead yellowish ; head gray ; back brownish, dark 

 streaked ; yellow line over and back of eye and on side of 

 throat ; throat white with black patch ; breast yellow shad- 

 ing into white on the belly. 



Ai/uU ? — General colour duller, with black patch on throat. 

 Length — 6.00. 



Breeding Range — "From Texas to Minnesota" (Recent Eastern 

 Records). 



The nest may be found either on the ground in open fields 

 and prairies or in bushes or trees ; it is built of " leaves, grasses, 

 rootlets, corn-husks, and weed stems ; the lining is of fine grass 

 and often horse hair." 3 to 5 pale blue eggs are laid. Size — 

 .80 X .60. 



In Iowa the nesting season begins in May, continuing until 

 August. 



705. Brown Thrasher: Harporhynchus rufus (Linn.) 



Adult — Upper parts bright orange-brown or rufous ; under parts 

 white with black spots forming longitudinal streaks ; bill 

 long with downward curve ; the tail is over five inches long. 

 Length — 11.42. 



Breeding Range — From the Gulf States to Canada. 



The nest is placed indiscriminately on the ground or in low 

 bushes ; it is rather bulky and roughly made of twigs, vine ten- 

 drils, roots, bark, and leaves, "lined with horse hair and a few 

 feathers " (Davie). Those that I have found in New Jersey were in 

 every case lined with fine black rootlets. 3 to 5 and rarely 6 eggs 



50 



