62 SONG SPARROW. 



harsh chirps run together so as to form a kind of trill which, 

 although lively, is not very musical. 



Genl's. song sparrows. Melospiza. 



Small birds, less than seven inches long, reddish brown 

 above, streaked with dusky; lighter below, also streaked with 

 brown (but obscurely in the Swamp Sparrow. ) Bill, rather 

 larger and stouter than in the last genus. Wings either short- 

 er than the rounded tail, or equal to it, or but little exceeding 

 it in length. Sexes, similar. We have three species. 



Song Sparrow. 



Melospiza fasciata. 

 Plate XIV, Fig. 2. 



Wings, shorter than the tail. Reddish brown above, streaked 

 narrowly with ashy and more broadly with dark brown. 

 White beneath, spotted on breast, where the spots accumu- 

 late to form a central patch, and streaked on sides with dark 

 brown. There is a medium line on crown, and over eye one 

 of ashy. Back of eye is a brown line, one below e^'e and 

 a maxillary patch of the same color. Young, have the ashy 

 markings overwashed with dusky and the lower parts are 

 tinged with yellowish. Nestlings show no traces whatever 

 of the ashy, but its place is supplied with reddish yellow, 

 which also strongly tinges the entire lower parts, where the 

 spots and streakings occupy the same area as in the adults, 

 but the spots do not accumulate to form a central patch. 



Dimensions. Length, (^>.38 ; stretch, 8.75 ; wing, 2.55 ; tail, 

 2.77 ; bill, .48 ; tarsus, .75. 



