32 SAVANNAH SPARROW. 



Young and winter birds show little 3V1I0W over theeje, and 

 the colors above are more rufous. Nestlings have no indica- 

 tions whatever of the yellow line over the e3'e,and are slight- 

 ly tinged with yellowish below, where they are more finely 

 streaked. 



Dimensions. Length, 5.7o ; stretch, 9.45; wing, 2.75; 

 tail, 1.90; bill, .45 ; tarsus, .82. 



Comparisons. This is, excepting the following species, 

 the only decidedly brown Sparrow, streaked below, within our 

 limits which has yellow over the eye, this being readily dis- 

 tinguishable at a considerable distance. From the closely 

 allied Ipswich Sparrow, this is known by the smaller size 

 darker colors, while the central tail feathers are not especially 

 pointed. 



Nests and Eggs. Nests placed on the ground in open 

 fields and marshes or on sand-hills of the coast, composed of 

 coarse grass loosely arranged into a shallow cup-shaped struct- 

 ure, lined wiih grasses. They are about three and a half inches 

 in diameter. Eggs, four or fine in number, oval in form, bluish 

 white in color, thickly blotched, and some portions nearly 

 covered, with reddish brown. Occasionally, there are distinct 

 marks of umber, and more rarely lines of the same color. 

 Dimensions, .85 by .62. 



General Habits. The Savannah Sparrows are also ground 

 loving species, but not to so great a degree as are the Yellow- 

 winged and lienslow's, for it is not unusual to find them 

 perched in bushes or even in trees. This is especially true 

 when the birds are migrating. Although common all over 

 New England wherever the land is cultivated, tliey are rather 

 more abundant on the sea shore, esneciallv durinjr the breediu'i; 



