PASSERES — FRINGILLID.E — EMBER1ZA. 161 



THE SAVANNAH BUNTING. 



Embeiuza savanna. 



plate lxvh. fig. 155. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Water Finch? Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 376 (young?). 



Fringilla savanna. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 4, p. 72, pi. 34, fig. 4 (male); Vol. 3, p. 55, pi. 22, fig. 3 (female). 

 ., P. (Spiza) id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. Vol. 2, p. 108. 



Savannah Sparrow. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 489. Audubon, folio pi. 109. 



F. savannarum. Peabody, Mass. Rep. p. 324. 



Emieriza savanna. Ahdcbon, B. of Am. Vol. 3, p. 68, pi. 160. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 102. 



Characteristics. Cheeks, space over the eye, and ridge of the wings yellow. Above 

 rufous, streaked with black. Breast and flanks spotted with brown. 

 Female, with no yellow marks. 



Description. Bill short, conic ; the edges entire. The three first primaries subequal, 

 longest. Hind claw nearly as long as the toe. Tail short, emarginate, extending 1 " 2 beyond 

 the tips of the closed wings. 



Color. Crown with black streaks. Chin, belly and vent white. Legs yellowish or flesh- 

 colored. Edges of the primaries white ; of the tail-feathers lightish. General color pale 

 reddish brown : above spotted with black ; the breast and sides with small dark brown spots 

 and streaks. Female : line on the crown, and over and beneath the eyes cream-colored. 



Length, 55-60. Alar extent, 8-5-9-0. 



The Savannah Bunting is quite common in this State, occurring from April to October, 

 and occasionally is found during the winter along its maritime border. It breeds in this 

 State ; the nest being placed on the ground, and containing four or five pale bluish eggs 

 mottled with purplish brown. It feeds on beetles and seeds of grasses. It ranges from 

 Texas to the 52d parallel, and along the Pacific it extends its range to Columbia river. 



[Fauna — Part 2.] 21 



