THE FOX SPARROW. 91 



this Sparrow, its retiring habits, and general inconspicuousness, all combine 

 to make its home hard to find and its habits hard to study. Even in sections 

 where it is common it is but infrequently seen, and it might breed and remain 

 throughout the year in many localities in the state and escape observation by 

 any one able to distinguish it from other Sparrows." 



The Swamp Sparrow is known to breed sparingly in Pennsylvania 

 throughout the state, having been studied there by Wilson and others. Pro- 

 fessor A, W. Butler reports its breeding commonly in northern Indiana. 

 Mr. E. W. Nelson regards it as more abundant than the Song Sparrow in 

 Cook County, Illinois, during the breeding season, while Mr. Ridgway finds 

 it wintering in immense numbers in the southern parts of that state. 



No. 42. 



FOX SPARROW. 



A. O. U. Xo. 585. Passerella iliaca (Merr.). 



Description. Adult: Upper parts rusty red in spots and streaks, on an 

 ashy or olive-gray ground, smaller and sharper on the crown, broader and deep 

 on interscapulars ; all wing feathers more or less margined with rufous, and with 

 dusky inner webs ; middle and greater coverts tipped with whitish ; edge of wing 

 white; upper tail-coverts clear bright rufous; tail rufous with (mainly) dusky 

 inner webs ; below white, heavily spotted and blotched on sides of head and throat 

 and on breast with rusty red; on sides and flanks with elongated or sagittate 

 streaks of deeper ferruginous, and on lower breast with open arrow-shaped mark- 

 ings of brownish black ; bill dark above, yellow below ; feet pale. Length 6.50- 

 7.50 (165.1-190.5); av. of five Columbus specimens: wing 3.44 (87.4); tail 

 2.77 (70.4) ; bill .45 (11.4). 



Recognition Marks. Sparrow size, but appearing at times almost as large 

 as Chewink ; rusty red coloring and heavily spotted breast ; bright rufous of 

 upper tail-coverts and tail. 



Nesting. Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, in low bushes or on the ground, 

 of coarse grasses, moss, and vegetable fibers, lined with fine grass and feathers. 

 Eggs, 4-5- P ale bluish, speckled and blotched with reddish brown or chocolate. 

 Av. size, .80 x .63 (20.3 x 16.). 



General Range. Eastern North America west to the Plains and Alaska, 

 and from the Arctic Coast south to the Gulf States. Breeds north of the United 

 States ; winters chiefly south of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers. 



Range in Ohio. Common spring and fall migrant. 



IT may be set down as a maxim for the encouragement of the faithful 

 that all birds which should sing at all do sing sometimes during migrations. 

 There is the Fox Sparrow, a bird of most engaging appearance, nearly as 



