BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 113 



Centronyx Bairdii, Baird. — Baird? s Sparrow. 



(See Frontispiece.*) 



Embtriza Bairdii. Aud., Birds America, VII. 1843 ; PI. 500. 

 Coturniculus Bairdii. Bon., Syn. 1850, 481. 

 Centronyx Bairdii. Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 441. 



Sp. Cii. — Back grayish ; the middle of the feathers hav- 

 ing 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 extending 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 broad- 

 ly 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 indistinctly spotted with dusky. A triangular spot on 

 the sides of the neck, below the ear-coverts, pale buff; 

 ears dusky. Bill dark brown, with the base of the under 

 mandible paler. Eyes and feet brown. 



Differs from Pooecetts gramineus, 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 Passercidus savanna it cannot justly be 

 compared, as it is much larger, and has a shorter and more 



* The convexity of the upper mandible is somewhat exaggerated in the 

 plate. 



H 



