490 PASSERELLA ILUCA. 



tTicy may be unsurpassed for sweetness and tender expression, but tbc end comes and fnuTs- 

 ns only half satisfied, as if the songster had withheld something which were ours by right 

 and which he could give us if he would. Not so the Lark Finch, for not only docs he sing- 

 early and late, long and often, but he seems to put his whole soul into the effort, or per- 

 haps better, to send forth his lay without effort and to never tire. During the pairing time 

 T have seen several males in pursuit of a female who with affected coyness led them <a 

 rapid chase through the tangled maze of brush and foliage, and as they pressed ardently 

 on each gave voice to a hunied strain of melody which blent into a whole, and marked 

 their track as it were by a continuous stream of music. 



"By the last of July or early August the young are all well on the wing and the birds 

 then assemble in flocks irrespective of age or sex and so continue until the ensuing spring.. 

 In Florida, New England, and the s-tates bordering on the coast, it has hitherto been looked 

 upon as a mere straggler. But so many instances of its capture are now coming to lighfi 

 in the latter named sectionij that it would ;ilmost appear as if the species were actually 

 from some cause moving eastward,, and it may eventually take its^ place in the Eastern 

 fauna as a rcgular inhal)itant." 



C.'ENU;-! X PASSERELLA. TIIE RUFOUS SPARROWS. 



(lEN. Cii. Bi/I, rather pointed. Winf/s, lonijcr thati the tail which is sliejkUy roundid. Tcrtiaries, much shorter than 

 secondaries. Sternum, proportionatc/y stouter than that of Chondcstcs,- with the coracoids shorter and the keel hiejher, it is 

 not. however, equal in h/iijht to one half the Icnijth of the coracoids. Size, larrje. 



All the species are ])roininently mnvked (in the rump antl tail witli liriglit rufous. They are also streaked below. No 

 prominent lines over the eye or wliite Liarkings on the tail. 



PASSERELLA ILIACA. 



Fox-colored Gparrow. 



PasserrUa iliaca Sw., lUrds, IT, 1837, 28&. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, very robust. Sizcr, targe. Tongue, somewhat flosliy, bifid at the extremity but without the terminal 

 cilia. Sternum, as given under generic characters. 



CoLon. Adult. To]) of head slaty, streaked and tinged with dark-rufoas. Remainder of upper portion, including the 

 wings and tail, bright-rufjus, clearest on t!ic rump, with t!;e edges of the feathers of the back ycUowisli-slate. There are- 

 two whitish wing I)ai's. Beneath, white, streaked and spotted on the throat, breast, sides, and flanks, with bright-rufous. 

 Abdomen, marked with triangular spots of dark-lirown, Linder tail coverts, tinged with yellowish. Ear coverts, rufous. 

 Bill, brown, yellow on lower mandible. Feet, brown. 



Younej. Quite similar to the al)ove, but the slaty is nearly concealed by the rufous which is more extended on the liack. 

 The rufous below is ligliter and there are few or no dark-brown markings OB the abdomen. Sexes usually similar in all 

 Btages, but the females are sometimes duller. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There Ls a general uniformity of coloration above but the shade varies somewhat. Below, however, there is more vari- 

 ation. Frequently there are white maxillary lines, below which is one of rufous, when tlie throat is white or only sparse- 

 ly spotted. There is sometimes a clustering of rufous spots on the central breast, Imt occasionally these will be dusky. 

 Rarely the centers of the featlicrs of the sides and flanks will be dusky. The above changes from the tyjje are purely indi- 

 vidual variation not dependent upon age or sex. 



Known from the allied species by the bright rnfous markings above and below, which will also distinguish them from 

 all otiier Sparrows. Distributed during summer throughout the Eastern section of North America, above hvtitmle 4~'. 

 Wintei's from New Jersey to Cieorgia. Rare in Florida.. 



