FltlNGILLIDJE: FINCHES, BUNTINGS, SPARROWS, ETC. 



361 



225. 



gated, rarely equalling the primaries in the closed wings. First 4 quills about equal and longest. 

 Hind toe and claw about equalling the middle toe and claw, its claw about equalling the digit. 

 Tail shorter than wing, lightly double-rounded (central and outer pair of feathers both a little 

 shorter than tlie intermediate ones). Top of head strealied with black and rich brownish- 

 yellow, or buff, the fonncr predominating laterally, the latter chiefly as a median stripe, but 

 also suffusing the nape and sides of head in greater or less degree. Back varied with 

 brownish-black and gray, together with a little bay, the two latter colors forming the edg- 

 ings of the interscapulars and scapulars. Rump variegated with gray and chestnut-brown, 

 different in shade from that of the back. Under parts dull white, usually with a faint 

 ochrey tinge on the breast, but often without ; a circlet of small, sharp, sparse, dusky streaks 

 across the breast, continuous with others, longer and mostly ligliter, along the whole sides, and 

 witli others, again, extending up the sides of the neck into small vague maxillary and auricular 

 markings. When the feathers are perfectly arranged these lateral head-markings are seen to 

 be a post-ocular stripe just over the auriculars, a post-auricular spot, a streak starting from the 

 angle of the mouth, and another heavier one parallel 

 with and below this, running directly into the pec- 

 toral ones. Quills without special markings, except- 

 ing the elongated inner secondaries, which correspond 

 with the scapulars. Tail the same, slightly whitish- 

 edged. Upper mandible mostly dark, lower pale. 

 Feet flesh-colored. Length 5.10-5.85, averaging 

 5.07; extent 8.60-9.85, average 9.50; wing 2.75- 

 3.00 ; tail 2.00-2.25 ; culmen about 0.40 ; tarsus 

 about 0.75 ; middle toe and claw, and hind toe and 

 claw, each, rather less ; 9 averages rather smaller. 

 A Ktumnal plumage : Soft, with brighter, more suf- 

 fused colors, in bolder pattern. Whole top and sides 

 of head, as well as nape and part of neck, suffused 

 with rich buff, in many instances as bright a golden- 

 brown as that on the head of Siurus auricapillus. A 

 paler, rather oehraceous shade of the same also suffus- 

 ing the whole fore under-parts. Pectoral and lateral 

 dusky streaks, as well as the two rows on each side of the throat, large, heavy, diffuse. Bay 

 and whitish edgings of the secondaries broad and conspicuous, contrasting with the black central 

 fields. Whitish edgings of tail-feathers tlie same ; and, in general, the same character is stamped 

 over all the upper i)lumage. Newly -fledged young have each feather of the dorsal plumage con- 

 spicuously bordered with white, producing a set of semicircles, much as in Neocorys spraguii. 

 There is the same general buffy suffusion of the head and fore parts as in autumnal adults, 

 but the tint is dull and ochrey. The markings below have a short, broad, guttiform character. 

 When just from the nest, the edging of the secondaries and tail-feathers is of a peculiar pinkish- 

 rusty shade. Central Plains, U. S. ; N. to British Provinces ; E. nearly to R(!d River of the 

 North ; S. to Texas, N. Mex. and Arizona ; W. to the Rocky Mts., and beyond. An interesting 

 sparrow, long almost unknown till I found it breeding in profusion in Dakota, taking 75 speci- 

 mens one season. In general habits and appearance in life quite like savanna sparrows ; mix- 

 ing freely with these and Neocorys, Eremophila, and Plectrophanes ornatus. Song peculiar, of 

 two or three tinkling syllables and a trill, like np-zip-zip-zr-r-r-r. Nest on ground, a slight 

 structure of grasses and weed-stalks, about 4 inches across ; eggs 5, 0.80 X 0.65, white, iriegu- 

 larly speckled and blotched with pale and dark reddish-browns, laid in June and July, 

 P. prin'ceps. (Lat. princeps, chief.) Ipswich Savanna Sparrow. <J : General apjiear- 

 ance of a large savanna sparrow, but with a resemblance to a bay-winged bunting. Ui>iicr 



Fig. 226. — Baird's Savanna Sparrow, re- 

 duced. (Slieppard del. Nichols sc.) 



