M’COWN LONGSPUR. 
539. Rhynchophanes mecownii. 6 inches. 
Male with a black crown and patch on breast, and 
chestnut shoulders; female, and male in winter, dull 
colored with all bright markings obscured by brownish 
gray. 
These are also common birds on the plains of middle 
U. S., but perhaps not so much so as the last species, 
with which species they are often found breeding. 
These finches show their close relationship to the 
famous Skylark of Europe by frequently indulging in 
the same practice of soaring aloft and descending on 
set wings, rapturously uttering their sweet song. 
Song.—A shrill, twittering warble; call a musical 
chirp. 
Nest.—A neat cup of grasses in a hollow in the 
ground on prairies or in fields. Their four to six eggs 
are dull whitish clouded with brownish, the marking 
not being as distinct as in those of the last species 
(.75 x .55). 
Range.—Breeds on the Great Plains from Kansas 
north to Saskatchewan; winters south to Mexice 
