444 BULLETIN 15 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and 12, 1928. At Hinche, Haiti, in 1927, Wetmore found a few near 

 the Experiment Station and collected four males on April 20 and 23. 

 The plains here are burned annually so that there is very little cover 

 to which the birds may resort until new growth has come. In April 

 the cover was very scant. The majority of the grasshopper sparrows 

 seen were about bare, gravelly knolls where they were found on the 

 open ground. Often when approached they turned their backs when 

 the streaked markings of the dorsal surface rendered them quite in- 

 conspicuous. Again when they were in mats of dead grass they 

 remained hidden until almost beneath the collector's feet. At times 

 they flew into low bushes to perch and then were easily approached. 

 The breeding season was near and a few were heard singing the usual 

 insect-like song. James Bond secured three at St. Michel March 3, 

 1928. He writes that he found the birds common on the Northern 

 and Central Plains. 



The seasonal variation in color in this form is considerable, birds 

 in fall dress being much darker than those taken at the approach of 

 the breeding period. 



Following are measurements of specimens in the National Museum, 

 Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Museum of Comparative 

 Zoology : 



Eighteen males, wing 55.8-59.3 (57.7), tail 40.3-45.9 (42.4) , culmen 

 from base 12.0-13.0 (12.5), tarsus 18.8-25.0 (21.1) mm. 



Five females, wing 52.7-56.0 (54.5), tail 36.9-41.7 (39.3), culmen 

 from base 12.1-12.7 (12.4), tarsus 19.5-21.5 (20.6) mm. 



The grasshopper sparrow is from 120 to 135 mm. in length with 

 short tail, rounded wings, and strong, heavy bill. The crown is 

 dull black, with a buffy line down its center, and a yellow line extend- 

 ing from the bill to above the eye. The feathers of the hind-neck are 

 light brown margined with gray, while those of the back and wing 

 coverts are black or light brown margined with gray and buff. There 

 are two indistinct light wing bars and the tail feathers, which are 

 narrow and pointed, are blackish margined with buff. The abdomen 

 and lower breast are white, and the rest of the lower surface is buff. 

 The young have the chest streaked with black. 



Subfamily Emberizinae 



BRACHYSPIZA CAPENSIS ANTILLARUM Riley 



CONSTANZA SONG SPARROW, SIGTTA, SIGUITA 



BracUyspiza antillarum Riley, Smithsonian Misc. Colls., vol. 66, no. 15, De- 

 cember 1, 1916, p. 2 (Constanza, D. R). — Richmond, Smithsonian Misc. 

 Colls., vol. 66, no. 17, 1917, p. 38 (mentioned). 



Mountain sparrow, Beck, Nat. Hist., vol. 21, 1921, p. 46 (above Tubano). 



