481 



SPIZELLA PVSILLA. ^'■ 



SPIZELLA PUSILLA. 



Field Sparrow. 

 Spizella pusi/la Boy., LL^t, 1838, 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si>. Cn. Form, rather slender. Size, medium. Tongue, horny, provided with the terminal, hair-like fibers. Keel, 

 lower than that of socialis, but the coraooids are longer. Upper mandible, slightly curved. 



Color. A<hili in summer. Upper portion of body , including outer edges of wing feathers, and spot on the sides of the 

 head, reddish-brown, jialest on the rump. There is an indication of an ashy collar. The wings and tail are brown with the 

 outer edges of the feathei-s of the latter, ashy. Tips of wing coverts, forming bars, white. Under portions, dirty-white, 

 with the maxillaries, brea.st, sidas and flanks tinged with rufous. Ear coverts, ashy. Bill, red. Feet, pale-lirown. 



AduU in. winter. The reddLsh-brown above is over-washed with dusky. There Ls more rufous below, where tlie white 

 is purer, but the white bars of the wings are inclined to be reddish. 



Younr/. In this stage the crown shows traces of ashy, and the feathers of the back are edged with it. The IiiU is dus- 

 ky, espaeially im the upper mandilile. 



Youni/ of the year in autumn. Are very dusky above, but with the outer edges of the wing fcathere broadly margined 

 with redilish; even the ashy edgings of the tail are replaced by it. The entire under portions, includmg under tail coverts, 

 are -,inged with rufous, brightest on the sidas, throat and breast. 



Ne.'il.inijs. Are similar to the above, but are streaked below, on all portions, excepting the abdomen. The sexes are 

 similar in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Specimens vary a very little in the shade of reddish-brown. The ashy collar is sometimes quite prominent, extending 

 across the nack, and there is an indication of a median line, of the same color, extending from the l)ill to the occiput. 



Readily known, when adult, by the rufous color above, and by the general suffusion of rufous in the younger stages. 

 Distributed, wliile lirecding, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, between the latitudes of the 'Wlute Mount- 

 ains and South Carolina. Winters from the Carolinas to Middle Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of fifteen specimeas. Length, 5-60; stretch, 8-15; wing, 2-55; tail, 2-45; bill, -38; tarsas, -73. 

 Longest specimen, 5'.)5; greatest extent of wing, 8-50; longest wing, 2-7,'); tail, 2-00; bill, '40; tarsus, -73. Shortest s]ieci- 

 iiien, 5-25; smallest extent of wing, 7'75; shortest wing, 2-12; tail, 2-20; bill, -35; tarsus, '05. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nr.tt.i, ])laced in low bushes or on the ground. They are loosely constructed, being composed of fine grasses and weeds, 

 lin.'d with grass and ho'.se hair. Dimensions; external diameter, 3-50, internal, 2-50. External depth, 1-75, internal, 1-00. 



Tv/^i.T, four or five in number, oval in form, bluLsh-white in color, spotted, and blotched witli reddlsli-brown and lilac. 

 Dimensions, from "Olx'SO to •70x'55. 



HABITS. 



IJy tlic niiildle of April, when spring has fairly opened, when the warm, south wind 

 (•(linos in gentle puffs that scarcely move the autumnal leaves which are still clinging to 

 Cic oaks, the peculiar song of the Field Sparrow may be heard coming from the low cc- 

 (u;rs which grow along steep, graAclly hill-sides or on harren tracts of land. This lay is 

 one of tlie sweetest that I ever heard. It cimsists of eight or ten notes which commence 

 l;iw, gradually growing louder, then liccome softer, when a scries of more distinct chirp? 

 .-ire given, ami the performance ends abruptly. The first part of the song is exceedingly 

 li'.ie, li'.it the latter portion is not as pleasing and the sudden termination i.s somewhat disap- 

 piinting. The bird while singing is perched on some cdevated situation, and seems to en- 

 ter into the imsiuess in hand with all his might. 



These melodiims strains arc .so striking that they produce a favoraliU' impression even 



lilililt lU Fl.OKIDA. *^ 



