328 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



In winter, Colonel Goss says, the Smith longspur is often asso- 

 ciated with other species of longspurs and horned larks. "Their 

 favorite resorts," he states, "are along old trails and abandoned 

 wagon roads upon the prairies, where the grass is short." 



538. Calcarius ornatus (Towns.). CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONG- 



SPUK. 



Tail feathers with bases of all but middle pair white. Adult male in 

 summer : throat and sides of head white or buffy, 

 in striking contrast to black under parts ; black 

 sometimes invaded by reddish brown ; upper 

 parts with black crown, markings on sides of 

 ale> head and shoulder patch ; nape bright rufous ; 



rest of upper parts streaked ; in full plumage shoulder patch deep black 

 tipped with white. Adult male in winter : similar, but black and rufous 

 obscured or concealed by brownish or buffy tips 

 to feathers. Adult female: buffy brownish, 

 streaked with blackish on upper parts and some- 

 times lightly streaked on breast and belly. 

 Fig. 417. Winter male. Plumage softer and colors more b l en ded in 



winter. Young : blackish feathers bordered with whitish and brownish ; 

 wing coverts tipped with whitish ; superciliary indistinct ; ear coverts 

 streaked ; throat white, flecked with dusky ; rest of under parts dull buff, 

 streaked, especially on breast. Male : length (skins) 4.63-5.89, wing 3.20 

 3.55, tail 2.00-2.39, bill .3S-.44. Female : length (skins) 4.67-5.64, wing 

 2.97-3.33, tail 1.89-2.25, bill .39-.43. 



Remarks. The female is an obscure bird, but may be recognized by its 

 generic characters and extensively white tail. 



Distribution. Breeds in Transition and Upper Sonoran zones on the 

 Plains from Assiniboia to Kansas ; winters from Nebraska south through 

 Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, to Orizaba, Mexico. 



Nest. On ground, made largely of dried grasses, lined with feathers. 

 Eggs : 3 to 6, white, tinged with pink, buff, or green ; distinctly spotted 

 with blackish or shades of brown. 



Food. Largely weed seed. 



In a list of the birds of Fort Hays, Kansas, Dr. Allen states that 

 the chestnut-collared is abundant over the plains, being " one of the 

 most interesting and characteristic species." He adds that it has a 

 ' ' short, shrill, but very sweet song, which is often uttered on the 

 wing." 



Flocks of several hundred have been seen by Mr. Bailey in south- 

 ern Arizona in October and November. 



GENUS RHYNCHOPHANES. 

 639. Rhynchophanes mccownii (Later.). McCowN LONGSPUR. 



Bill stout, conical ; nasal plumules nearly concealing nostrils ; wings 

 nearly five times as long as tarsus ; tail more 

 than half hidden by pointed coverts ; tarsus 

 longer than middle toe with claw ; hind claw 

 about equal to its toe, nearly straight ; tail 

 Fig. 418. feathers, except middle pair, white broadly 



