Open Nests on the Ground 



The nest is always placed on the ground, generally at the 

 root of a tall weed or small bush in an open field ; it is slightly 

 made of coarse and fine grass and small roots, lined with horse- 

 hair. 4 or 5 eggs are laid ; they are whitish, thinly spotted and 

 blotched with warm brown and lilac, with sometimes a few 

 black markings. Size .80 x .60. See Fig. 13, Plate B. 



These sparrows are distinguished by the white outside tail 

 feathers, which are extremely noticeable when the bird flies. 

 Do not mistake it for a junco or titlark ! They are among the 

 commonest of the sparrows in parts of Long Island and in New 

 England, where they commence breeding towards the end of 

 May, raising as many as three broods during the season. They 

 are called Vesper Sparrows from their habit of singing until quite 

 late in the evening. 



542a. Savanna Sparrow: Ammodramus sandwichensis 

 savanna (Wils.) 



Adult Upper parts brownish, darkly streaked ; pale yellow line 

 over the eye and at the bend of the wing ; under parts white 

 or whitish streaked with dark brown. Length 5.65. 



Breeding Range From southern New Jersey northward to 

 Labrador. 



The nest is built on the ground in fields or pasture land 

 inland, or in the salt marshes and grassy places on or near the 

 coast; it is a flimsy structure of grasses, rarely of moss, lined with 

 fine grass and occasionally horse-hair. The number of eggs 

 varies from 3 to 6; they are white or greenish white, with fine 

 brown spots or large blotches of cinnamon. The variations in 

 colour are so great that any accurate description is scarcely 

 possible. Size .78 x .56. See Fig. 15, Plate B. 



This little sparrow is generally to be seen along the sea-coast, 

 though it is also found inland. Minot speaks of seeing them 

 breeding in the White Mountains, where he found a nest con- 

 taining fresh eggs the 23d of July. They begin nesting in May, 

 and rear two or three broods. 



Care should be taken that the Savanna Sparrow is not con- 

 fused with either the sharp-tailed, seaside, or Ipswich sparrow; 

 the latter, however, does not breed in the United States, but is a 

 northern-breeding species, which, after the breeding season, 

 comes on our northern Atlantic seaboard. 



43 



