THE IPSWICH SPARROW. 25 
75. Centronyx Bairdii, Bairp.— Baira’s Sparrow. It is with pleasure that 
I add this unique sparrow to the Catalogue of the Birds of Eastern Massachusetts. 
Previous to the capture of this there was but one specimen extant, which was one 
of the original birds captured by Audubon upon the banks of the Yellowstone River, 
July 26, 1843. My specimen, through the kindness of Professor S. F. Baird, has 
been compared with the original, which is in his possession, and pronounced identi- 
cal; but as mine differs somewhat from his, I have thought best to give a descrip- 
tion of it here.* 
Centronyx Bairdii, Batrp.— Baird’; Sparrow. 
(See Frontispiece.t) 
Emberiza Batrdit. Auvp., Birds America, VII, 1843; Pl. 500. 
Coturniculus Bairdit. Bon. Syn. 1850, 48r. 
Centronyx Bairdit. Bairv, Birds N. Am. 1858, 441. 
Sp. Cu.— Back grayish; the middle of the feathers having a black centre edged 
with rufous. Top of head streaked with dusky and pale rufous, divided by a broad 
stripe of pale yellowish white. There is also a whitish superciliary stripe extend- 
ing from the base of the bill to the back of the head. Ear-coverts grayish, with a 
rufous tinge. Quills brownish, edged with white on the outer web; scapularies, 
secondaries, and wing-coverts brownish black, edged broadly with rufous, brightest 
on the secondaries; scapularies also edged narrowly with white; the ends of both 
rows of wing-coverts narrowly tipped with white, forming two rather indistinct bars 
across the wings. Tail brownish, with the tips of the feathers and terminal half of 
the outer web of the outer tail-feathers pale yellowish white; the rest of the tail- 
feathers narrowly edged with the same. Under parts, including under tail-coverts, 
pure white. Feathers of the sides of the throat, with a broad band across the 
breast and sides, streaked with rufous, with dusky centres. The throat is indis- 
tinctly spotted with dusky. A triangular spot on the sides of the neck, below the 
ear-coverts, pale buff; ears dusky. Bill dark brown, with base of the under 
mandible paler. Eyes and feet brown. 
Differs from Powecetes gramineus, which in general form it resembles, in having a 
central stripe on the head, and a general rufous appearance, also in having longer 
tarsi, toes, and claws. With /asserculus savanna it cannot justly be compared, as it 
is much larger, and has a shorter and more obtuse bill. Indeed, so nearly does it 
resemble the P. gramineus, that amateur ornithologists to whom I have shown it have 
unhesitatingly pronounced it to be that species. 
*«Tt differs in color just as clear autumnal birds differ from worn breeding ones,— tints paler, 
markings more suffused, etc. The stripe along the top of head is paler, not as fulvous as in the 
type; but in all essential points it seems to be the same bird.”— Professor S. F. Baird, in Epist. 
+ The convexity of the upper mandible is somewhat exaggerated in the plate. 
4 
