PASSERCUI^US PRINCEPS : IPSWICH SPARROW. 235 



IPSWICH SPARROW. 

 PASSERCULUS PRINCEPS Mayn. 



Chars. " Back greyish ; the middle of the feathers having a black 

 centre edged with rufous. Top of head streaked with dusky and 

 pale rufous, divided by a broad stripe of pale yellowish white. 

 There is also a whitish superciliary stripe extending from the base 

 of the bill to the back of the head. Ear-coverts greyish, with a 

 rufous tinge. Quills brownish, edged with white on the outer 

 web ; scapularies, secondaries, and wing-coverts brownish-black, 

 edged broadly with rufous, brightest on the secondaries ; scapu- 

 laries also edged narrowly with white ; the ends of both rows of 

 wing-coverts narrowly tipped with white, forming two rather in- 

 distinct bars across the wings. Tail brownish, with the tips of 

 the feathers and terminal half of outer web of the outer tail- 

 feathers pale yellowish white; the rest of the tail-feathers narrow- 

 ly edged with the same. Under parts, including the under tail- 

 coverts, pure white. Feathers of the sides of the throat, with a 

 broad band across the breast and sides, streaked with rufous, 

 with dusky centres. The throat is indistinctly spotted with dusky. 

 A triangular spot on the sides of the neck, below the ear-coverts, 

 pale buff; ears dusky. Bill dark brown, with the base of the 

 under mandible paler. Eyes and feet brown. Differs from Pace- 

 cetes gramineus, which in general form it resembles, in having a 

 central stripe on the head, and a general rufous appearance, also 

 in having longer tarsi, toes, and claws. With P as serculus savanna 

 it cannot justly be compared ; it is much larger, and has a 

 shorter or more obtuse bill. Ipswich, Mass., December 4, 1868. 

 Length, 6.30; extent, 11.00; wing, 3.25; tail, 2.60; bill, about 

 0.45 ; tarsus, 0.95 ; middle toe, 0.80 ; hind claw, 0.40." (May- 

 nard.} 



This Sparrow, at first supposed to be Centronyx 

 bairdi, was discovered by Mr. Maynard on the sand- 

 hills of Ipswich, Mass., which in places are covered 

 with coarse grass, and include depressions which, ex- 

 cept in summer, contain water and fresh grass ; in one 



