104 EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



from the northern border of Western Kansas northward to the 

 Saskatchewan Plains, in June. 



540. Vesper Sparrow, Pooccptes gramineiis. (Type, Plate 

 IX.) Eggs, 4 or 5, rarely 6, oblong oval, greenish white, 

 but very pale, spotted, blotched, and dotted, rather obscurely, 

 with purplish brown, while there are almost always lines of 

 nmber ; .80 -f- .60 to .83 -}- -^S- The lines of umber are so 

 nearly always i:)resent in the eggs of the Vesper S])arrow tliat 

 they form a distinguishing character taken in connection M'ith 

 the prevalent paler colors of the other markings. Nests 

 placed on the ground, composed of grass. Breeds in Eastern 

 North America west to the plains, from Virginia, Kentucky, 

 and Missouri north to Nova Scotia and Ontario, in April and 

 May, and again in July. 



540a. Western Vesper Sparrow, Pooccetes grammeus 

 confinis. Eggs, indistinguishable from those of No. 540, and 

 the nests and nesting habits are similar. Breeds in Western 

 United States, from the plains to the Pacific, in April. 



5405. Oregon Vesper Sparrow, Pooccetes gramineus affi,- 

 nis. I have never seen the eggs, but j^resume that both they 

 and the nests are similar to those of No. 540. This sub-species 

 is described by Mr. G. S. Miller, Jr., in the " Auk " for Octo- 

 ber, 1888. 



541. Ipswich Sparrow, ^«imof?r«?WMS jyrmceps. Authenti- 

 cated eggs are unknown, but is supposed to breed on Sable 

 Island, Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



542. Sandwich Sparrow, Amtnodramxis sandicichensis. 

 Ego-s, 5 or 6, rounded oval, greenish white, blotched and 

 spotted, often so thickly as to conceal the ground color, with 

 reddish and purplish brown ; nests placed on the ground, com- 

 posed of grass. Breeds in the northwest coast, from the 

 Columbia River to Unalaska, in June. 



542a. Savanna Sparrow, Ammodrarmis sandwichensis 

 savanna. Eggs, 4 to 6, indistinguisliable from those of No. 

 542, and the nests and nesting habits are similar. Breeds in 



