182 



The species has been recorded only once in eastern Canada, at 

 Toronto. Owing to its mouse-like habits it is most difficult to find or to 

 recognize when seen, and, therefore, may be more common than it is 

 thought to be. 



549. 1. Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. FR. LE PINSON A QUEUE AIGUE. Passer- 

 herbulus nelsoni. L, 5 9. A small grass Sparrow. Above, median line of crown slaty-blue 

 bordered with dark brown, with an ochre line over eye. A faint slaty and olive band across 

 nape and shoulders. Back sharply striped with rich brown and light buff with a light slaty 

 overwash. Below, white with ochre breast extending more or less to the cheeks and flanks 

 and lightening on the throat. Breast sometimes, and flanks always, marked with indistinct 

 darker stripes. 



Distinctions. Slaty median crown stripe and long, strong stripes on back. 



Field Marks. The general strong buff or yellow coloration below, the yellow line above 

 the eye, and the faint streaking of breast. 



Nesting. On the ground; in nest of fine grass. 



Distribution. Eastern America, mostly in northern United States and southern 

 Canada. The type form is confined to the prairies and the other to the Atlantic coast. 



SUBSPECIES. Nelson's Sparrow is divided into two subspecies, the type form, the 

 Prairie Sharp-tailed Sparrow, a prairie race; and the Acadian Sharp-tailed Sparrow P. n. 

 svbvirgatus, an extreme eastern race. The Acadian Sharp-tail is confined to the salt marshes 

 of the east coast of Prince Edward Island and below the gulf of St. Lawrence. Its breast 

 and throat are lighter, buff rather than ochre coloured, and distinctly though faintly 

 streaked on breast. The colouring of the back is fainter and more diffused and the slaty, 

 median line wider and in less contrast to the brown. There is little chance of confusion 

 between them for the races can be divided geographically with considerable certainty. 

 Nelson's Sharp-tail is only of casual and accidental occurrence in the Great Lakes region, 

 whereas the Acadian is practically confined to the vicinity of salt water. 



The Sharp-tailed Sparrows are marsh-haunting birds, running and 

 hiding in the grass and refusing to take wing until absolutely forced. 



Genus Chondestes. Lark Sparrows. 



552. Lark Sparrow. FR. LE PINSON ORDINAIRE. Chondestes grammacus. L, 6-25. 

 A very striking and conspicuously marked Sparrow. Above, striped with brown and 

 buffy brown; below, white with buffy flanks. Crown, chestnut-brown with conspicuous 

 light median line; ear-coverts chestnut-brown in strong contrast to the white face; and three 

 sharp black lines, one through eye, one from lower mandible to ear-coverts, and one 

 down sides of throat. Outer tail feathers and ends of all except the middle ones, 

 white. 



Distinctions. The bright reddish brown ear-coverts contrasting with black and white 

 face are certain distinguishing characters of the species. 



Field Marks. The strongly marked head and face and the large amount of white in 

 the tail make easily recognized field marks. 



Nesting. In low trees or bushes, in nest of grasses lined with fine grass, rootlets, and 

 hairs. 



Distribution. The Mississippi valley westward. The Eastern Lark Sparrow, the type 

 form, extends from the Great Plains east and north into southern Ontario. Another sub- 

 species occurs in the west. 



SUBSPECIES. The eastern subspecies of this bird is the Eastern Lark Sparrow, 

 the type form of the species. 



The Lark Sparrow is rare in eastern Canada. It is to be looked for 

 in open brushy wastes and along the wooded edges of fields. 



