BIRDS OF NEW YORK 321 



species must diminish in numbers. Its song is usually delivered from the 

 top of a cat-tail or some low bush and resembles considerably the trill of 

 the Chipping sparrow, but is not so thin and insectlike and is somewhat 

 more melodious. It has also an ordinary chip similar to that of the Song 

 sparrow. 



Its nest, which is placed on the ground at the edge of the marsh or 

 in a bunch of flags or sedges, resembles very much the nest of the Song 

 sparrow. The eggs are 4 or 5 in number, greenish white or light blue in 

 ground color, rather closely spotted and blotched with brown, more heavily 

 around the large end. Average dimensions .76 by .56 inches. Two broods 

 are usually reared in a season. 



Passerella iliaca iliaca (Merrem) 

 Fox Sparrow 



Plate 83 



Fringilla iliaca Merrem. Beytr. besond. Gesch. Vogel. 1786. 2. pi. 10 



DeKay. Zool. N. Y. 1844. pt 2, p. 149, fig. 166 

 Passerella iliaca iliaca A. O. U. Check List. Ed. 3. 1910. p. 277. No. 



585 



passerella, diminutive form of passer, sparrow; iliaca, prelinnean specific name of 

 the Redwing, from Gr., iXca?, a thrush; perhaps from a superficial resemblance to a 



thrush 



Description. A large sparrow with a moderately heavy bill, nearly 

 square tail, prevailing colors rufous and gray. The top of the head and 

 neck and sides of the neck largely gray or brownish gray ; the back brownish 

 gray streaked with dark rufous; rump and tail deep rufus or rusty; under 

 parts white, heavily spotted on the breast and sides with triangular spots and 

 short streaks of blackish; numerous blotches of deep rufous also on the 

 breast and side of the throat; auriculars largely rusty; heavy maxillary 

 streaks of dusky rufous; bill yellowish, at least the base of the lower 

 mandible, tip dusky; legs light brown; sexes alike. Young very similar to 

 the adult. 



Length 6.75-7.5 inches; extent 10.5-11.5; wing 3.4-3.7; tail 2.7-3.1; 

 bill .5; tarsus .96. 



Distribution. The breeding range of the Fox sparrow extends from 

 the Gulf of St Lawrence and Labrador to Alaska, being practically con- 



21 



