NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 393 



582. ALEUTIAN SONG SPABBOW. Mclwiriza cinerta (Gmel.) Geog Dist. 

 Aleutian Islands, east to Fort Kenai. Alaska. 



This is the Cinereous or Kadiak Song Sparrow of peculiar size, shape and color, 

 and very long, slender bill. It inhabits the Aleutian Islands, where it nests among 

 the tall grass and in the low shrubbery. Eggs similar to those of M. fascinta, but 

 averaging larger, ,89x.65 inches. 



583. LINCOLN'S SPABBOW. Melospiza lincolnii (Aud.) Geog. Dist. Entire 

 North America, breeding from the Northern border of the United States north- 

 ward, and south in higher mountain ranges. 



Lincoln's Finch is found throughout North America at large, breeding sparingly 

 in the United States from Wisconsin and Northern New York northward, and in 

 the west as far south as the mountains of Southern Colorado. Breeds not uncom- 

 monly in the valleys of Oregon. From its habits of skulking through the under- 

 brush and shrubbery of marshes, more like a mouse than a bird, it is seldom seen, 

 and consequently it seems to be little known. Nests on the ground like the Song 

 Sparrow. Mr. Norris has two sets of the eggs of Lincoln's Sparrow taken in Boulder 

 county, Colorado, on June 22, and July 18, respectively. One of the nests was placed 

 in a mossy bank among small swamp bushes, and composed entirely of grasses; the 

 other was built at the base of an aspen tree. The eggs of one set, three in number, 

 are light greenish-white heavily marked, principally at the larger end with chestnut 

 and lavender-gray; sizes .81x.58, ,81x.59, .82x.60. The nest taken June 22 is of four 

 eggs; these are light pea-green thickly marked with chestnut and measure, .79x.58, 

 .76x.57, .81x.58. .79x.57 inches. 



583a. FOBBUSH'S SPABBOW. Melospiza lincolnii striata Brewst. Geog. 

 Dist. British Columbia. 



This subspecies is very similar to M. lincolnii but with the superciliary stripe and 

 the entire upper parts more strongly olivaceous, etc. (Cf. Brewster, Auk VI, April, 

 1889, p. 89.) 



584. SWAMP SPABBOW. Melospiza georgiana (Lath.) Geog. Dist. Eastern 

 North America, breeding from Northern United States northward; west to the Plains, 

 casually to Utah. 



The Swamp Sparrow breeds from the Northern United States northward. On 

 account of its secretive and retiring habits, the bird, its nest and eggs are very apt 

 to escape notice unless perseveringly hunted and purposely looked for. The Swamp 

 Sparrow dwells in the deep recesses of marshy thickets environed with a canopy of 

 tangled foliage, whose treacherous quagmire abounds in a luxuriant growth of wild 

 grasses. In these retreats the bird may exist in abundance and still be considered 

 rare in certain localities where it has been overlooked. Its neat, trim form and taste- 

 ful colors render it one of the handsomest of our smaller sparrows. The Swamp 

 Sparrow builds is nest on the ground in low, damp places; in construction and com- 

 position it is like that of the Song Sparrow and the eggs of the two species are some- 

 what similar. The eggs of M. georgiana, however, may generally be distinguished 

 by the peculiarly clouded and indistinct appearance of the markings. The eggs of 

 M. fasciata on the contrary, _s a rule have smaller markings and much more distinct 

 ones, while the clouded effect of those of M. georgiana is entirely wanting. These are 

 four or five in number and the average size is .82x.56 inches. 



