JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 



583 



Genus POCECETES Baird. 



248. Pooecetes gramineus (GMEL.). 

 VESPER SPARROW. 



Distr.: Eastern North America, from Dakota and Nebraska to 

 the Atlantic coast, north to Ontario and Quebec and south to the Gulf 

 coast; breeds from Missouri and Kentucky northward. 



Adult: Upper plumage, grayish brown, streaked with black, some 

 of the feathers edged with pale rufous brown; under parts, whitish; 



Tail of Vesper Sparrow. Vesper Sparrow. 



the sides of throat, breast, and sides of body streaked with dark brown 

 and pale buff; lesser wing coverts, rufous brown; tail, dark brown, 

 the outer feathers mostly white (see cut, in Key to Species). 



Length, 6; wing, 3; tail, 2.45; bill, .38. 



An abundant summer resident in Illinois and Wisconsin, arriving 

 from the south the latter part of March or early in April. (First Chi- 

 cago record, March 20). The song, which is very sweet and plaintive, 

 is often heard after sundown. 



The breeding season lasts from May until July. The nest, which 

 is built on the ground in open places, is composed of dry grass and 

 small rootlets. The eggs are from 4 to 6, usually dull white or pink- 

 ish white, marked and scrawled with black and pale purplish brown, 

 and measure about .82 x .61 inches. 



