no TlIK SANDWICH SI'.\RR(\. 



Taconia ln-forc tlic first week in May, ami tliev are not certainly found Ijcfore 

 the middle of that month. Oikmi prairie is mi>st fre<|iicntly selected for a 

 site, and its close-cro|)|)ed mossy surface often rct|uircs considerable ingenuity 

 of concealment on the bird's i)art. Ploiifjhed ground, where undisturlwd, is 

 eagerly utilized. .\t other times a shallow cup is scrai)cd at the base of a 

 small fern, or the protection of a fallen limb is sought. 



The eggs, from three to live in number, are |)erhai>s the most hands<Mucly, 

 certainly the most <|uaintly marked of any in the sparrow family. The ground 

 color is grayish white; and this, in addition to sundry frecklings ami cloudings 

 of lavender, is spotted, blotched, and scrawled, with <jld chestnut. 



The female sits closely and sometimes will not leave the nest until 

 removed. She seldom tlics at that, but stcjis off and trips along the ground 

 for some distance. Then she walks alxmt uneasily or pretends to feed, 

 venturing little expression of concern. Curiously, her liege lord never apjiears, 

 either, in defense of his home, but after the young are h.ilchcd he floes his 

 fair share in feeding them. 



No. 41. 



SANDWICH SPARROW. 



A. O. I'. \o. 34J. Passcrciiliis sandw ichcnsis (Cniclin). 



Synonym. — I.aK(.kr S.w.a.nna Si'akkow. 



Description. — .Idiilts: General tone of ujniir |)lnmagc grayish brown — the 

 feathers blackish centrally with nuicli edging of grayish-brown (sometimes 

 bay), flaxen and whitish; a mesial crown-stripe dull bufly. or tinged ante- 

 riorlv with yellowish; lateral stripes with grayish brown edging reduced; 

 a broad superciliary strijjc yellow, clearest over lore, paling posteriorly; cheeks 

 butTy with some mingling and outcropping of dusky; nnder))arts whitish, 

 clearest on throat, washed with buffy fin sides, heavily and sharply streaked 

 on sides of throat, breast, sides, flanks and thighs with dusky ; streaks 

 nearlv confluent on sides of throat, thus defining submalar area <>f whitish; 

 streaks darkest and wedge-shaped on breast, more dilTused ami edged with 

 buflfy posteriorly: under tail-coverts usually hut uol uhuiiys with concealed 

 wedge-shaped streaks of <lusky ; bill dusky or dull horn-color above, lighter 

 below; feet palest; iris dark brown. I'oll sf<t-iiiiii-iis are brighter; the yellow, 

 no longer prominent in superciliary stripe, is difTuseil over plumage of entire 

 head and, occasionally, down sides; the bend of the wing is ]>ale yellow 1 or not) ; 

 the side'i are more strongly suffused with buflfy which usually extends across 

 breast. Length almut 5.75 ( 14^1) ; wing 2.(/) (76) ; tail 2.00 (51 ) ; bill .47 ( t2t ; 

 tarsus .SS ( 22.5). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size (but much more robust in a]>i>e.irance 

 than a Warbler); general streaky appearance; the striation of the heail. viewed 

 from before, radiates in twelve ailernatinf,' areas of black and white (or yellow) : 

 larger and lighter than the (rare) Savanna Sparrow I f\ s. saratiua): larger. 



