^6 VESPER SPARROW. 



feathers. There are no distinct wing bars. We have one 

 species only. 



Vesper Sparrow. 



POOCAETES GRAMINEUS. 



Plate VIII, Fig. 2. 



General coloration, buffy gray, with the outer tail feathers 

 distinctly marked with white. Above, buffy gray, thickly 

 streaked with dark brown. There is a whitish line over the 

 eye. Beneath, whitish, tinged with buff, rather sparingly 

 marked across breast and sides with quite narrow brown lines. 

 The outer webs of the two outer tail feathers are usually white 

 and there is a large spot on the inner webs of these and a small- 

 er one on the next two. Shoulders, reddish brown. Young, 

 are more yellow above and below, and the white of the tail is 

 confined to the three outer feathers and the reddish of shoul- 

 ders is streaked with gray. Nestlings are finely streaked 

 with dusky everywhere excepting, on the abdomen. 



Dimensions. Length, 6.29 ; stretch, 10. 64 ; wing, 3.22 ; 

 tail, 2.42 ; bill, .85 ; tarsus, .55. 



Comparisons. We have no other Sparrow which is streaked 

 above and below, that has the outer tail feathers marked with 

 white. This is very apparent as the bird flies, especially if it 

 be moving away from the observer. 



Nests and Eggs. Nests placed m a depression on the 

 ground. They are very slight structures, composed of dried 

 grass loosely arranged and are about three inches in diameter. 

 Eggs, four or five in number, oval in form., ashy white in 



