NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



breeding season to the northern boundary of United States. The nest is 

 built on the ground and is made of grasses. Chestnut-shouldered Bunting, 

 or Longspur, is another name for this bird. Breeds in profusion on the 

 prairies from Colorado northward, in portions of Dakota and Montana. 



Hab. Eastern slopes of Rocky Mountains, from Texas to Upper Missouri. 



191. Baird's Bunting — centronyx bardi. This Sparrow was for a 

 long time almost unknown till Dr. Coues found it breeding abundantly 

 in Dakota; its general habits are something like those of the Savanna 

 sparrows. The nest is placed on the ground, a slight structure of 

 grasses and weed-stalks. The eggs, usually five, white irregularly 

 speckled and blotched with pale and dark reddish-brown; size .80 by .65. 



Hab. Central Plains of U. S., north to British Provinces; east nearly to Red River of the North; 

 south to Texas, north to Mexico and Arizona; west to the Rocky Mts. and beyond. 



19Sa. Savannah Sparrow — passerculus sandwichensis savanna. Green- 

 ish or grayish-white, more or less thickly blotched with different shades of 

 brown, in some the markings are brown and purple, forming a confluent 

 ring around the larger end; four to six in number and measure .70 by .50. 

 This Sparrow breeds from Massachusetts northward. The nest is made 

 in a hollow of the ground. It is composed of a few grass stems, just 

 enough to keep the eggs from the earth. 



Hab. Eastern North America to the Missouri plains, and northwest to Alaska. 



193^. Western Savannah Sparrow — passerculus sandwichensis alau- 

 DiNUS. Same as those of the preceding species. The nest is built similar 

 to that of P. S. savanna. 



Hab, Middle and Western Province of United States except California, where replaced by var. 

 ani/iitii/s. 



197. Grass Finch — pocecetes gramineus. Pale greenish-white, marked 

 with lines, dots and blotches of various shades of reddish and purple- 

 brown ; in some, a confluent ring is formed about the larger end; the 

 number of eggs laid is usually four, often five, size .80 by. 60. West of 

 the Rocky Mountains this species is replaced by var. confinis. Distributed 

 in summer from the latitude of Pennsylvania north as far as Canada. 

 Nest is placed on the ground; it is a slight structure made of dry grass. 

 The bird is beautifully named "Vesper-bird" from its habit of singing in 

 the evening. Bay-winged Bunting is another name for it. 



Hab. Eastern Province of United States. 



197rt. Western Grass Finch — pocecetes gramineus confinis. Eggs 

 in my collection of this variety are exactly the same as those of the pre- 

 ceding species. The nesting habits are also the same. 



Hab. Western and Middle Province of United States, south to Mexico. 



