44 BIRDS OF KANSAS. 



grounds are on the barren plains that are dotted over with low, stunted bushes; 

 are said to nest in bushes and on the grouiad, and that their eggs are pure 

 white. 



Genus MELOSPIZA Baied. 



B. 363. R. 231. C. 244. G. 114. U. 581. 



235. Melospiza fasciata (Gmel.). Song Sparrow. Resident in eastern Kansas; 

 rare in summer; common during the winter in the thickets and low sheltered 

 lands. Begin laying about the first of May. Nest near the water, usually on 

 the ground, under a tuft of grass, but occasionally in a bush; a compact nest, 

 composed chiefly of grasses, and lined with the slender, hair-like stems. Eggs, 

 four or five; .78x.59; dull, greenish white, spotted and blotched with reddish 

 brown, and a few purplish stains; the markings are pretty evenly distributed 

 over the entire egg, in some cases sparingly, in others so thick and confluent 

 as to conceal the ground color; in form oval. 



B. 368. R. 234. C 242. G. 116. U. 583. 



236. Melospiza lincolni (Auc). Lincoln's Sparrow. Migratory; common. 

 Arrive the last of April to first of May. To be looked for in the timber and 

 brush skirting the streams. June 16th, 1885, I shot a female in the willows on 

 the bank of the Smoky Hill river, near Wallace. No signs of the enlargement 

 of the ovaries, and so late in the season, was led to think the bird was breeding 

 there; but the next day, after a faithful search, failed to find either her nest 

 or her mate. 



B. 369. R. 233. C. 243. G. 115. U. 584. 



237. Melospiza georgiana (Lath.). Swamp Sparrow. A rare winter sojourner 

 in eastern Kansas; common during migration. Leave in April. 



Genus PASSERELLA Swainson. 



B. 374. R. 235. C. 282. G. 117. U. 585. 



238. Passerella iliaca (Meke.). Fox Sparrow. Winter sojourner; abundant in 

 eastern, rare in western Kansas. Leave in March to first of April. 



B. 376. R. 235c. C. 284. G. 118. U. 585c. 



239. Passerella iliaca schistacea (Baied). Slate-colored Sparrow. Included 

 on the authority of Prof. F. H. Snow, who enters the same in his catalogue 

 of the birds of Kansas, as "migratory; rare." 



Genus PIPILO Vieillot. 



B. 391. R. 237. C. 301. G. 119. U. 587. 



240. Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linn.). Towhee. Common resident in east- 

 ern Kansas. Begin laying about the 20th of May. Nest in thickets and near 

 the edge of timber, usually on the ground, but occasionally on a low tree or 

 bush; a bulky structure composed of leaves, twigs, and strippings from grape- 

 vines, and lined with small stems of grasses and rootlets. Eggs, four or five; 

 .94x.71; grayish white, spotted with reddish brown, thickest and somewhat 

 running together around large end; in form elliptical. 



