242 BiKDS OF XORTH CAROLINA 



The Lark Sparrow was taken at Raleigh. August 19. 1889, on which occasion a 

 second si)ccinien was seen hut not o])tained. A nest which had been deserted by 

 the birds was found on July 24, 1890, and contained four eggs. C. S. Brimley 

 recorded one on October 23, 1893. It has also been taken at Cranberry, Mitchell 

 County, August 9, 1886, by (!. P.. Sennett (W. W. Cooke in Bird-Lore, March- 

 April, 1911, page 86). 



The Lark Sparrow is preeminently a bird of the fields or plains, building its 

 nest in a depression in the ground, where it is usually concealed by the surround- 

 ing tufts of grass. It is constructed of grasses and weed stems. Four eggs are 

 laid, more like those of an oriole than a typical sparrow. They have a pure white 

 ground-color, speckled and marked with zigzag, straight, and wavy lines of very 

 dark brown and black, chiefly near the larger end. Size .82 x .64. They are said 

 to be laid from May to .Jul>'. 



Genus Zonotrichia Swains.) 



Contains several species of sparrDWs, with the head broadly striped alxn'c, and 

 the wings and tail about e(|ual in length. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. 'I'liroat white, brca.st ash. SuDorciliary line yellow in front. White-lhroated Sparrow. 

 1. Throat and breast same color, whitish. Xo yellow. White-croimed Sjxirrou: 



Ve^^ 



FlU. l'J2. WlUTE-CROWKED SlWRROW. 



234. Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys (Forsi.). White-crowned Spar- 

 how. 



Description: Ads. — No yellow before the eye or on the bend of the wing; center of crown white, 

 bordororl on either side liy hlark stripes; no white before the eye; a white line from over the eye 

 jiasses Icickward jloiiji llie side of the lu'ad; nape pay; l):i<-k dark gi'ayish brfuvii, iiiarfiiiicd with 

 firav; rump dark brownish asli; tfi-cater and middle wiiiK-covcrts tipped with wiiite: tail fiiscons; 

 underparts jjrayisli, white on the belly, (lanks and uiuler tail-coverts cream-lnilT. Im. — Simikir, 

 but much browner, sides of tlie crown rufous-brown, center of the crown pale gi-ayish brown; 

 nape brownish ash; back margined with the same color. L., 6.88; W., 3.03; T., 2.88; B., .43. 

 (Chap., Birds of I'J. A'. A.) 



Range. — -Whole United States, except southeastern portion, in winter; tireeding mainly north 

 of the United States. 



Range in A'orlli Carolina. — So far, known only as an acci<lental visitor in \Vake and Huncombo 

 counties. 



