FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



299 



Fig. 85.- 



-Lark Sparrow, 

 size.) 



(Natural 



restricted range than any other North American bird. Mr. Maynard 

 considers it migratory, and states that it is not found in Florida during 

 the winter. In flight as well as in habits, he says, it resembles the 

 Sharp-tailed rather than the Seaside Sparrow {A. maritimus). Its song 

 of low, sputtering notes is given while the bird hovers in the air, after 

 which it drops quickly into the grass. 



552. Chondestes gramxnacus {Say). Lark Sparrow; Lark 

 Finch, ^t/.— Sides of the crown and ear-coverts chestnut, a whitish line 

 over the eye and through tlie center of the crown ; a black streak on the sides 

 of the throat ; upper parts brownish ash ; back streaked with blackish ; tail 

 fuscous or black, the outer feathers tipped 

 with white; under parts white, a small 

 black spot in the middle of the breast. 

 L., 6-25; W., 3-50; T., 2-75; B., -45. 



Bange. — Interior of North America, 

 eastward to Illinois ; breeds from Texas 

 to Manitoba ; accidental on the Atlantic 

 coast (Massachusetts, Long Island, New 

 Jersey, District of Columbia, Florida). 



Washington, A. V., July, Aug., two 

 captures. 



Nest^ of grasses, lined with rootlets, 

 fine grasses, and long hairs, on the ground or in low trees or bushes. Eggs., 

 three to five, white or pinkish white, spotted, blotched, or scrawled with pur- 

 plish or black, chiefly at the larger end, -78 x -60. 



This is an exceedingly common bird in the west. It frequents 

 localities of much the same nature as those selected by the Grass 

 Finch, and in its general habits and song reminds one of that species. 



554. Zonotrichia leucophrys {Forst.). White-crowned Spar- 

 row. Ad. — No yellow before the eye or on the bend of the wing; center of 

 the crown with a white stripe bordered on either side by black stripes, all of 

 about equal width ; no white before the eye ; a white line from over the eye 

 passes backward along the side of the head; nape gray; back dark grayish 

 brown^ margined with gray ; rump dark brownish ash ; greater and middle 

 wing-coverts tipped with white ; tail fuscous ; under parts grayish white on 

 the belly, flanks and under tail-coverts cream-butt'. Im. — Generally similar, 

 but sides of the crown rufous-brown, center of the crown pale grayish brown ; 

 nape brownish ash ; back margined with the same color. L., 6-88 ; W., 3-03 ; 

 T., 2-88 ; B., -43. 



Range. — "Breeding from higher mountain ranges of western United 

 States, Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains, and eastward, north of the Great 

 Lakes, to Labrador; in winter, over whole of United States, and south into 

 Mexico" (Ridgw.). 



Washington, irregularly common W. V. and T. V., Apl. 15 to May 15; 

 Oct. 15 to Nov. 30. Sing Sing, rare T. V., May 9 to 26; Oct. 3 to 30. Cam- 

 bridge, uncommon T. V., May 12 to 22; Oct. 1 to 20. 



