THE WESTERN LARK SPARROW. 



103 



behind ; upper parts buffish gray brown, clearest on sides of neck, streaked by 

 blackish brown centers of feathers on middle back and scapulars, persisting as 

 edging on the fuscous wings and tail; tail-feathers, except middle pair, broadly 

 tipped with white; below white, ])urest on throat and belly, vvashed with grayish 

 buff on sides and crissum, als(j obscurely across fore-breast, in which is situated 

 a central black spot. Length 6.25 (158.8); wing 3.35 (85); tail 2.68 (68); 

 bill .47 ( 12) : tarsus .80 (20.3). 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size: head variegated blatk, white, and chest- 

 nut: fan-shaped tail liroadh tipjied with white and conspicuous in flight (thus 



WKSTKRN' r.ARK Sl'AUKOW. 



easily distinguished from the Western \'esper Si)arrow with scpiare tail and lateral 

 white feathers). 



Nesting. — Nest: of grasses, lined with fmer grass, rbotlets and occasionally 

 horse-hair, on the ground or. rarely, in low bushes or trees. Eggs: 5, white, 

 pinkish or bluish white, sjiotted and scrawled in zigzags and scrolls with tlark 



