FRINGILLIDA: FINCHES, BUNTINGS, SPARROWS, ETC. 365 
colored or yellowish. Length 5.75-6.25 ; extent 10.00-10.50 ; wing 2.80-3.25 ; tail 2.25-2.75. 
North Amer. at large, breeding throughout its range, but partially migratory, chiefly nesting 
northward, and wintering southward. A large, stout, full-chested sparrow of plain appearance, 
but recognized on sight by the bay bend of the wing and white lateral tail feathers, — the latter 
conspicuous as it flies. Very abundant in fields, along roadsides ; terrestrial, gregarious to 
some extent when not breeding. Nest sunken in the ground, bulky, thick-rimmed, deeply 
cupped ; eggs 4-6, heavily colored, as in P. savana, 0.50 X 0.60; two or three broods may be 
reared. One of the sweetest songsters among the sparrows. 
P.g. confi/nis. (Lat. confinis, near.) WESTERN GRASS Fincn. The paler, grayer form from 
the dry western regions. 
COTURNI/CULUS. (Lat. coturniz, a quail; coturniculus, a little quail.) GRASSHOPPER 
Sparrows. Bill (in passerinus and henslowt) short and stout, with curved culmen (in 
lecontit slenderer and more elongate). Wings extremely short and rounded, so that the inner 
secondaries reach nearly to the tip when closed, without special elongation ou their part. Tail 
of variable length according to species, weak, of narrow, lanceolate feathers, in one species very 
tapering and acuminate. Feet stout, much as in Ammodramus. Plumage greatly variegated ; 
buffy tints conspicuous on under parts. Contains 3 remarkably distinct N. Am. species of queer 
little sparrows of grass, weeds, and reeds, with another of 8. Am. (C. mamimbe). They show 
a greater rangé of variation in form than our finical modern genera usually allow, and shade 
through C. lecontii into Ammodramus. The name is appropriate; C. passerimus curiously 
resembles a quail in miniature. 
Analysis of Species. 
Tail shorter than wings; outstretched feet reaching to or beyond itsend. Bill stout, brown. Adult not evi- 
dently streaked below .. . Ce al GP ls sate Oo POSSEMMIISE: Dot eooe 
Tail equal to wings. Sharp Sen ee Seeeesal fea (ieee pfreaice. Bill stout, brown. . . henslowi 286 
Tail longer than wings ; outstretched feet not reaching its end. Bill slender, bluish. Sharp lateral without 
pectoral or maxillary streaks <«) 2. . 2 2. «2 s 6 =.6 « = © ech ss eyel en HECOMME 23K 
C. passeri/nus. (Lat. passerinus, sparrow-like. Fig. 229. ) YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW. 
QuAIL SPARROW. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. J Q, adult: Edge of bare conspicuously yel- 
low; lesser wing-coverts greenish-yellow; a 
yellow loral spot; short line over eye buffy- 
yellow. Crown with median stripe of pale 
brownish-yellow. Below, ochraceous or pale 
buff or tawny, fading to whitish on belly, not 
evidently streaked, though a few dark touches 
may appear on sides of breast. Above, sin- 
gularly variegated with black, gray, yellow- 
ish-brown and a peculiar purplish-bay, in 
short streaks and specks; the crown being 
nearly black with sharp median brownish- 
yellow stripe, the middle of the back chiefly 
black with bay and brownish-yellow edgings 
of the feathers, the cervical region and rump 
chiefly bay and gray. When the feathers 
are not disturbed, the peculiar pattern of the 
cervical region separates that of the crown 
and back ; the markings extend on the sides HivG. 29/2 wellow-winged Sparrow, reduded. - (Shep: 
of the neck, but the sides of the head are pard del. Nichols sc.) 
Diain, like the under parts. Wing-coverts and inner secondaries variegated in intricate pattern, 
the general effect like the back. Primaries and tail-feathers plain dusky, with narrow light edg- 
ings ; outer tail-feathers paler, but not white. Feet flesh-colored. Small: length 4.80-5.25 ; 
