508 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
week earlier than the Savanna sparrow arrived. They run along 
among the grasses rather than take flight. The song is a low un- 
attractive s-e-e-t-s-k, emitted either from the ground or from an 
elevation. They feed about the margin of pools of still water where 
they seem to procure aquatic insects and grass seeds. Their colours 
blend most perfectly with such surroundings and it is only by per- 
servering watchfulness that an observer may see them, unless they 
happen to take flight. The nests are built back from the water 
where there is no danger from an overflow and are fairly well con- 
cealed. The few nests observed have been built of dried grass 
blades throughout, the lining being composed of the finest material. 
One nest was a mere film of blades, scarce compact enough to lift 
from the depression where it was placed. It was built under the 
side of a log and contained five eggs which were very uniformly 
marked, there being three distinct varieties of colouring. A set now 
before the writer, taken May 27th, contains four eggs, .71 x .59, 
.80 X .58, .72 X .60, .72 x .59. The ground colour is pale greenish- 
blue marked with cinnamon-brown, umber and blue-gray. The 
first, third and fourth are so heavily marked as to obscure the 
ground colour, the second is much more finely and sparsely marked, 
and with the third most heavily marked about the large end. The 
nest was placed in a gully having a southern exposure, and was also 
well concealed by thick grasses. While the writer was walking 
across an island the bird flushed from under foot and flew quietly 
away without making the least attempt at alluring its disturber 
from the vicinity of the nest, nor did it return for some time. The 
male was not seen at all. The eggs were fresh, which fact probably 
accounted for the shyness of the birds. (W.H. Moore.) 
CCXXV. CHONDESTES Swainson. 1827. 
552. Lark Sparrow. 
Chondestes grammacus (SAY) BonaP. 1838. 
One seen on Sable island, N.S. on September 6th, 1902, and a 
number on October 1oth. (/. Boutelver.) 
This bird breeds regularly at Toronto; a nest was taken at the 
Humber, May 15th, 1899; it is very local and not abundant. (J. H. 
Fleming.) The first time I saw one of these birds taken at Toronto 
