242 FRINGILI.IDyE : FINCHES. 



are as difficult to describe intelligibly as those of the 

 Savanna, and some samples are scarcely distinguish- 

 able, except by larger size, averaging 0.80 by 0.60. 

 However, they are generally much lighter-colored, 

 having a dull grayish-white ground, more or less 

 clouded with chocolate brown, but are also usually 

 scrawled with irregular umber-brown markings. The 

 difference in general effect is very decided when, as I 

 do in writing this, fifty or more Grass Finch eggs are 

 compared with an equal number of those of the Sa- 

 vanna Sparrow ; but it is not easy to convey the differ- 

 ence in a few words. Two broods are generally reared 

 each season, and a third may even be brought to life ; 

 for the Bay-wing is prompt about it in the spring, lay- 

 ing sometimes by the first of May, and thus before the 

 other Sparrows. The species is, upon the whole, the 

 most abundant of our field-birds. 



YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW. 



COTURNICULUS PASSERINUS (Wlls.} 



Chars. Above, curiously variegated with black, gray, buff, and pur- 

 plish-brown, disposed in short streaks and fine speckling, the 

 crown being nearly black with a sharp median buff line, the inter- 

 scapulars chiefly black with bay and buff edgings of the feathers, 

 the hind neck and rump chiefly gray mixed with bay ; wing- 

 coverts and inner secondaries variegated like the back. Lower 

 parts entirely unstreaked, of a rich buff color, fading to whitish 

 on the belly. Edge of wing conspicuously yellow ; lesser wing- 

 coverts, and short line over eye, yellowish. Bill dark above, pale 

 below ; feet flesh-color. Young birds are streaked below, but the 

 small size and peculiar proportions of parts will serve to identify 

 the species. Length, 4.90-5.20; wing, 2.33, rounded; tail, scarce- 

 ly 2.00, with very narrow pointed feathers, so short that the out- 

 stretched feet reach beyond it ; bill and feet remarkably stout. 



