BIRDS OF KANSAS. 443 



the feathers edged with gray, which is lightest on the scapulars, and forms there 

 two gray stripes. Crown with a broad median stripe of yellowish gray; super- 

 ciliary streak from the bill to the back of the head, eyelids and edge of the 

 elbow yellow, paler behind. A yellowish white mandibular stripe curving be- 

 hind the ear coverts, and margined above and below by brown. The lower 

 margin is a series of thickly crowded spots on the sides of the throat, which are 

 also found on the sides of the neck, across the upper part of the breast, and on 

 the sides of the body; a dusky line back of the eye, making three on the side of 

 head (including the two mandibular). A few faint spots on the throat and 

 chin. Eest of under parts white; outer tail feathers and primaries edged with 

 white. Young: Ground color of the upper parts (except wing and tail ) light 

 ochraceous, more brownish on top of head, upper part of back, and on upper 

 tail coverts; the streaks blacker and more conspicuous than in the adult. Be- 

 neath with an ochraceous tinge anteriorly, the streaks broader and deeper black 

 than in the adult, though less sharply denned. The infra-maxillary streak ex- 

 panded into a broad, blackish, elongated blotch. Specimens vary considerably 

 in size, color and shape of bill. Spring birds have the markings sharper and 

 clearer, the dark streaks with little or no suffusion of rufous." 



Stretch of 

 Length. wing. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Bill. 



Male 5.75 9.25 2.65 2.20 .80 .40 



Female... 5.50 9.00 2.55 2.10 .80 .38 



Iris dark brown; bill dusky, the under pale at base; legs and 

 feet flesh color; claws light brown. 



The birds inhabit the prairies and open grounds, preferring 

 the low, moist lands and edges of marshy grounds. 



They are strictly terrestial, run about with great ease, and in 

 their flights keep near the ground. Their food consists of 

 small insect life, and the fallen seeds from weeds and grasses. 

 Harmless, heedless birds, easily approached, but they seldom 

 frequent the dooryards or traveled roads. 



Their song is a low sort of trill or twitter, with but little vari- 

 ation or musical tone. 



Their nests are placed in depressions, or sunken places in the 

 ground, the brim only coming to the level of the surface; a loose 

 structure of grasses, occasionally lined with horse hairs. Eggs 

 usually four or five, .78x.56; vary somewhat in size, as well as 

 in coloration. A set of four eggs, taken June 31st, 1880, at 

 Newtonville, Mass., from a nest on the ground, are, in dimen- 

 sions: .74x. 55, . 74x. 58, . 80x. 58, . 81x. 58; grayish to greenish 

 white, speckled and blotched with varying shades of reddish 

 brown and lilac, thickest about the larger end; in form, oval. 



