220 



SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 



from the Carolinas southward to northern Fla. ; casually as 

 Fig. 289. far as Mass. ; south in Oct. ; north in May. 



Frequents rather dry marshes. Song, a 

 very feeble twitter given as the bird hovers 

 over the grass. Abundant. 



6. NELSON'S SPARROW, A. nelsoni. 

 Smaller than 5, especially bill ; brighter in 

 color ; streakings above more sharj)ly de- 

 fined ; those below paler, often grayish. 

 Breeds on the prairiemarshesof the Missis- 

 sippi Yalley from northern 111. north to 

 Manitoba ; winters along the Grulf coast 

 from Texas east to the coast of S. C, occas- 

 CC, F, j, 5. 1-4. ionally at this season and during migration 

 as far north as the coast of Mass. Time of migration as in 5. 

 7. ACADIAN SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, A. subvir- 

 GATus . Differs from 5 in being more plainly marked, the back 

 without conspicuous lighter streaks ; sides of head, pale-buff ; 

 paler buff beneath. Breeds on the Atlantic coast of the Brit- 

 ish Provinces from the mouth of the St. Lawrence southward, 

 occasionally to the coast of Me. Winter range and time of 

 migration as in 5. 



k. Grass Sparrows. Passerculus. 

 Small sparrows with long, broad wings, inner seconda- 

 ries nearly, or quite as long as primaries ; rather short, quite 

 square tails, with feathers somewhat pointed ; conspicuously 

 streaked above and below. Nest on ground; eggs, much as 

 in d. Frequent open sections of country. 



1. SAVANNA SPARROW, P. savanna. 5.75; grayish- 

 buff above with the dark-brown streakings sharply defined; 

 crown with median line of buff; sides of head buff with a 

 dark spot having a lighter center below eye ; line from over 

 eye to bill, and edge of wing, yellow ; white beneath, streak- 

 ings arranged much as in d, 1 ; feet, pale brown, fig. 290. 

 Eastern N. A., breeding from the Middle States north to Hud- 



