YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW. 27 



ing the subsiding of the waters, when they again seek their 

 fastnesses and rim about on the mud in search of small mol- 

 lusks and aquatic insects which form their principal food. 



Song. Both the Sharp-tailed and Sea-side Sparrows utter 

 a sharp chirp of alarm in winter and the present species utters 

 a low twittering song when hovering in air a few feet above 

 the grass. This lay is louder and more musical than that 

 given by the Sharp-tailed Sparrow. 



Genus. YELLOW-SHOULDERED SPARROWS. 



COTURKICULUS. 



Bill, short and thick, considerably swollen at the base. 

 Upper mandible but little curved. Wings, much longer than 

 the tail vfhich is a little rounded and with the feathers sharp- 

 ened terminally. Colors, light bufFy and white below, reddish 

 and buff above, or greenish and buff. Edge of wing, yellow. 

 1^0 prominent white markings on the tail. Sexes similar. 

 We have two species. 



Yeilow-winged Sparrow. 



COTURNICULUS PASSERINUS. 



Plate VI, Fig. 2. 



Form stout. General coloration buffy; beneath, unstreaked 

 (in adults ) and reddish above. Top of head brown, with a 

 central stripe of buff. Back ashy, streaked with reddish and 

 brown, the former color predominating. Wings and tail brown 

 edged with whitish and reddish buff. Line from bill to back 

 of eye, orange, when it becomes buff. Sides of head, throat, 

 breast and sides buff. Remainder of under parts white, tinged 



