\^ 



260 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



of under parts whitr. Lengtl', ^.10; wing, 2.70; tail, 2.10. Yoting. Ground-color of the 

 upper parts (except wings ani tail) light ochraceous, more brownisli on top of liead, 

 upper part of back, and on upper tail- coverts, the streaks blacker and more conspicuous 

 than in the adult. Beneath with an ochraceous tinge anteriorly, the streaks broader and 

 deeper black than in the adult, though less sharply defined. The iufra-ma.xillury streak 

 expanded into a broad, blackish elongated blotch." {,Hist. N. Am. B.) 



The Savanna Sparrow is one of those mconspieiious httle birds 

 which hide in the grass or run stealthily along the fences or fur- 

 rows, having nothing special in their appearance or habits to attract 

 particular attention. It is a very abundant species, at suitable 

 seasons, throughout the eastern portions of North America, breed- 

 ing in the more northern states and northward, and wintering in 

 the more southern portions of the Union. In portions of Illinois 

 the species is, to a greater or less extent, a permanent resident. 

 At least, the writer has in summer taken its nest and eggs, and 

 in midwinter shot specimens of the bird itself, at Mount Carmel. 

 It was, however, very rare there in summer, and, except in mild 

 seasons, by no means common in winter, being chiefly observed as 

 a spring and fall migi ant. 



The general habits of the Savanna Sparrow are very similar to 

 those of the Vesper Sparrow,— hke the latter, frequenting meadows 

 and nesting on the ground. 



Genus POOC-fflTES Baird. 



Fooccetes Baied, Birds N. Am. 1858. 447. Type, Fringilla graminea Gmel. 



"Gen. Chak. Bill rather large; upper outline slightly deeurved towards the end, 

 lower straight; commissure slightly concave. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe; 

 outer toe a little longer than the inner, its claw reaching to the concealed base of the 

 middle claw; hind toe reaching to the middle of the middle claw. Wings usually long, 

 reaching to the middle of the tail as far as the coverts, and pointed; the primaries con- 

 siderably longer than the secondaries, which arc not much surpassed by the tertiaries; 

 second and third quills longest; first little shorter, about equal to the fourth, shorter than 

 the tail; the outer tail-feathers scarcely shorter; the feathers rather stiff; each one acu- 

 minate and sharply pointed ; the feathers broad nearly to the end, when they are obliquely 

 truncate. Streaked with brown above everywhere; beneath, on the breast and sides. 

 The lateral tail-feather is white. Shoulder chestnut-brown." 



"The essential characters of the genus consist in the long and 

 pointed wings longer than the tail and without long tertials ; and 

 the rather stiff forked tail, with its acute feathers." {Hist. N. 

 Am. B.) 



