FRINGILLA SAVANNA. 



SAVANNAH SPARROW. 



[Plate XXII. Fig. 3, Female.] 



This new species is an inhabitant of the low countries on the Atlantic 

 coast, from Savannah, where I first discovered it, to the state of New 

 York ; and is generally resident in these places, though rarely found 

 inland, or far from the sea shore. The drawing of this bird was in the 

 hands of the engraver before I was aware that the male was so much 

 its superior in beauty of markings and in general colors. With the 

 representation of the male are given particulars of their nest, eggs, and 

 manners. I have found these birds numerous on the sea shore, in the 

 state of New Jersey, particularly near Great Egg Harbor. A pair of 

 these I presented to Mr. Peale of this city, in whose noble collection 

 they now occupy a place. 



The female of the Savannah Sparrow is five inches and a half long, 

 and eight and a half in extent ; the plumage of the back is mottled 

 with black, bright bay and whitish ; chin white ; breast marked with 

 pointed spots of black, edged with bay, running in chains from each 

 base of the lower mandible ; sides touched with long streaks of the 

 same ; temples marked with a spot of delicate yellow ; ear feathers 

 slightly tinged with the same ; belly white, and a little streaked ; inside 

 of the shoulders and lining of the wing pale yellowish ; first and second 

 rows of wing coverts tipped with whitish ; secondaries next the body 

 pointed and very black, edged also with bay ; tail slightly forked, and 

 without any white feathers ; legs pale flesh color ; hind claw pretty long. 



The very slight distinctions of color which nature has drawn between 

 many distinct species of this family of Finches, render these minute 

 and tedious descriptions absolutely necessary, that the particular species 

 may be precisely discriminated. 



(120) 



