THE IPSWICH SPx\RROW. 25 



75. Centronyx Bairdii. Baird. — Baird's Sparrow. It is with pleasure that 

 I add this unique sparrow to the Catalogue of the Birds of Eastern Massachusetts. 

 Previous to the capture of this there was but one specimen extant, which was one 

 of the original birds captured by Audubon upon the banks of the Yellowstone River, 

 July 26, 1843. My specimen, through the kindness of Professor S. F. Baird, has 

 been compared with the original, which is in his possession, and pronounced identi- 

 cal ; but as mine differs somewhat from his, I have thought best to give a descrip- 

 tion of it here.* 



Centronyx Bairdii, Baird. — Baird': Sparrow. 



(See Frontispiece. t) 



Emberiza Bairdii. AuD., Birds America, VII, 1S43 ; PI. 500. 

 Coturiiiciilus Bairdii. BoN. Syn. 1S50, 4S1. 

 Centronyx Bairdii. B.MRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 441. 



Sp. Ch. — Back grayish ; the middle of the feathers having a black centre edged 

 with rufous. Top of head streaked with dusky and pale rufous, divided by a broad 

 stripe of pale yellowish white. There is also a whitish superciliary stripe extend- 

 ing from the base of the bill to the back of the head. Ear-coverts grayish, with a 

 rufous tinge. Quills brownish, edged with white on the outer web ; scapularies, 

 secondaries, and wing-coverts brownish black, edged broadly with rufous, brightest 

 on the secondaries ; scapularies also edged narrowly with white ; the ends of both 

 rows of wing-coverts narrowly tipped with white, forming two rather indistinct bars 

 across the wings. Tail brownish, with the tips of the feathers and terminal half of 

 the outer web of the outer tail-feathers pale yellowish white ; the rest of the tail- 

 feathers narrowly edged with the same. Under parts, including under tail-coverts, 

 pure white. Feathers of the sides of the throat, with a broad band across the 

 breast and sides, streaked with rufous, with dusky centres. The throat is indis- 

 tinctly spotted with dusky. A triangular spot on the sides of the neck, below the 

 ear-coverts, pale buff ; ears dusky. Bill dark brown, with base of the under 

 mandible paler. Eyes and feet brown. 



Differs from Focecetcs graminais, which in general form it resembles, in having a 

 central stripe on the head, and a general rufous appearance, also in having longer 

 tarsi, toes, and claws. With Passeirulus savanna it cannot justly be compared, as it 

 is much larger, and has a shorter and more obtuse bill. Indeed, so nearly does it 

 resemble the P. gramineus, that amateur ornithologists to whom I have shown it have 

 unhesitatingly pronounced it to be that species. 



*"It differs in color just as clear autumnal birds differ from worn breeding ones, — tints paler, 

 markings more suffused, etc. Tlie stripe along the top of liead is paler, not as fulvous as in tlie 

 type; but in all essential points it seems to be the same bird." — Professor S. F. Baird, in Epist. 



t The convexity of the upper mandible is somewhat exaggerated in the plate. 

 4 



