254 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



and exhibiting a slight resemblance to C. henslowi. The upper parts 

 are less varied. 



"Specimens from the Far West have the bill more slender, the 

 reddish of the back considerably paler, the dark markings of the 

 back restricted, the light stripe on the head with scarcely any yel- 

 low, a decided spot in front of the eye quite yellow, and little or no 

 ochraceous on the breast. 



"The young bird, with streaked jugulum, may be most readily 

 distinguished from C. henslowi by the grayer plumage without any 

 shade of chestnut or greenish yellow, the sparseness of streaks on 

 the side, the absence of the two mandibular dusky stripes, and the 

 broad dusky centres of the middle tail-feathers." (Hist. N. Am. B.) 



This little bird is abundant in all cultivated portions of the State, 

 as well as on the open prairie. To the rural population it is known 

 as the "Grass-bird," "Ground-bird," or "Grasshopper-bird," the lat- 

 ter appellation being derived from its grasshopper-like song, which 

 it utters from the end of a fence-stake, the top of a tall weed-stalk, 

 or as it sits upon the summit of a haycock in the meadow. The 

 greater portion of its time is passed in the grass, in which it runs 

 from the intruder, unseen, like a mouse ; or, if pressed too closely, 

 rises suddenly and flies a greater or less distance in a zigzag man- 

 ner, exceedingly provoking to the collector, who finds it a difficult 

 mark to hit. 



Ammodramus henslowii (Aud.) 



HENSLOWS SPABBOW. 



Popular synonym, Henslow's Bunting. 



Eniberiza henslowi AUD. Orn. Biog. i, 1831,360; v.1839, 498, pi. 77; Synop. 1839, 104; B. Am. 



iii. 1841.75.pl. 163. 



Fringilla henslowi NUTT. Man. 2d ed. 1,1840, 571. 



Coturniculus henslowi BP. 1838. BAIBD, B. N. Am. 1858, 451; Cat N. Am. B. 1859. No. 339. 

 -COUES. Key, 1872, 137; Check List, 1873, No. 163; 2d ed. 1882, No. 236; B. N. W. 1874, 

 133 ("henslowii"). B. B. & R. Hist. N. Am. B. i. 1874. 550, pL 25, fig. 5. RIDGW. Nom. 

 N. Am. B. 1881, No. 199. 



HAS. Eastern United States, breeding north to Massachusetts, northern Illinois, etc. , 

 winters in Southern States. West to Loup Fork of the Platte. 



"Sr. CHAB. Upper parts yellowish brown, the hood, neck, and upper parts of back 

 tinged with greenish yellow. Interscapular feathers dark brown, suffused externally 

 with bright brownish red; each feather with grayish borders. Tertiaries, rump and tail- 

 feathers abruptly dark chestnut-brown, darkest centrally, paler externally, and narrowly 

 margined with gray. Crown with a broad, black-spotted stripe on each side; these spots 

 continued down to the back. Two narrow black mandibular stripes and one postocular 

 on each side of the head, and an obscure black crescent or spot behind the auriculars. 



