34 IPSWICH SPARROW. 



Dimensions. Length, 6.25; stretch, 11.00; wing, 8.28 ; 

 tail, 2.50 ; bill, 48 ; tarsus, .95. 



Comparisons. This is the palest of all our Sparrows with- 

 out exception, and these very light tints, combined with the 

 3'ellow over the eye, will serve to distinguish the bird in 

 spring, while in autumn, the pale tints above will be suf- 

 ficient. In general coloration above this Sparrow resem- 

 bles the Vesper Sparrow, but differs in the abcence of any 

 white on the tail,while beneath, the Vesper Sparrow has more 

 distinct spottings, but they are not as numerous as in the Ip- 

 swich Sparrow. 



Nests and Eggs. Nests placed on the ground and are 

 quite similar to those of the Savannah, while the eggs are also 

 similar, but are larger on the average. 



General Habits. This is chiefly a migrant along our New 

 England coast, a few occurring as early as the middle of Octo- 

 ber, but the main flight does not reach us until the last week 

 of the month and then the birds continue common until about 

 the middle of November. A few remain north of Boston as 

 late as the first week in December, and some spend the win- 

 ter on Cape Cod, but by far the greater number pass the cold 

 season on Long Island, the coast of New Jersey, and on 

 Cobb's Island, off the coast of Virginia, while two specimens 

 have been taken in Georgia. 



They breed on Sable Island only, and while with us, fre- 

 quent the sea coast, usually living in the beach grass on the 

 sand-hills which skirt the shore. I once obtained a speci- 

 men in April 4 th, 1874, at Ipswich, Massachusetts, which 

 was perched on an apple tree about a mile inland, this, and 



