THE SAVANNA SPARROW. 57 
No. 26. 
SAVANNA SPARROW. 
A. O. U. No. 542a. Passerculus sandwichensis savanna ( Wils.). 
Description.—Adults in spring: Superciliary line and edge of wing near 
alula pale yellow (at a distance often not distinguishable from white) ; a buffy 
er whitish median crown line separating two broad, blackish stripes; blackish (but 
poorly defined) maxillary, rictal, and post-ocular stripes,—the last two usually 
meeting behind and enclosing the buffy auriculars; above, in general, brownish 
black, the feathers having black centers, bordered first by rufous or ochraceous 
buff, then by ashy; below, white or sordid, the belly and crissum unmarked; the 
chin and throat with tiny, and the breast with large, wedge-shaped spots of 
brownish-black (sometimes coalescing to form central blotch) ; sides and flanks 
heavily streaked with the same. At other seasons and in young birds, the yellow 
is more pronounced and the general pattern is somewhat obscured by a buffy 
or ochraceous suffusion. Adult male, length 5.30-5.60 (134.6-142.2) ; wing 2.75 
(69.9) ; tail 2.10 (53.3); bill .40 (10.2). Female averages a little smaller. 
Recognition Marks.—Warbler size (but much more robust in appearance 
than a warbler) ; general streaky appearance; thé striation of the head, viewed 
from before, radiates in twelve alternating black and white (or yellowish) areas. 
Nest, on the ground, sunken flush with surface, lined indifferently with 
grasses. Eggs, 4-6, greenish- or bluish-white, heavily spotted, mottled, or washed 
with reddish brown or lilac. Av. size, .78 x .56 (19.8 x 14.2). 
General Range.—Eastern North America, breeding from the northern 
United States to Labrador and Hudson Bay territory. 
Range in Ohio.—Spring and fall migrant; not very common, and of local 
distribution. A few remain to breed. 
DR. WHEATON’S statement: “Very common spring and fall 
migrant in southern and eastern, and probably summer resident in northern 
Ohio”, is somewhat puzzling and perhaps a little irritating to one who, having 
spent at least parts of eleven seasons in the field, has encountered only three 
isolated examples of the species in the state. ‘The Doctor probably depended 
greatly upon some favored haunt near Columbus not now known. I find upon 
inquiry that most available notebooks of the present day contain only scattering 
and meager references to this rather rare and irregular migrant. Mr. H. C. 
Oberholser, in his “Birds of Wayne County” says of it: “A transient visitor ; 
apparently rare, though in proper localities usually to be found in spring. Not 
observed in the fall. It arrived about the middle of April, the sixteenth of 
this month being the earliest date recorded.” Rey. W. F. Henninger in “Birds 
of Middle Southern Ohio”! says, ““A common transient, but not so common 
as a summer resident. Arrival April 28, 1898, April 5, 1899; departure 
Oct. 17, 1894, Oct. 29, 1897, Nov. 25, 1898.” It has no place among the 
recent records of the Wheaton Club in Columbus. 
1 The Wilson Bulletin, No. 40, Sept., 1902, p. 87. 
