BIRDS OF KANSAS. 595 



birds incubate, sitting so closely that on several occasions I 

 almost put my foot upon them before they flew. The first that 

 I found was on the 29th of June, when the thermometer ranged 

 from 51 to 54. The eggs were six in number, five-eighths of 

 an inch long, six and a quarter twelfths in breadth, being rather 

 elongated, though rounded at both ends; their ground color, of a 

 deep reddish chestnut or reddish brown, considerably darkened 

 by numerous dots of a deeper reddish brown and lines of various 

 sizes, especially toward the large end. 



"During the breeding time the male often rises on wing to 

 the height of eight or ten yards, and emits a few clear and mel- 

 low notes, but returns to its consort or alights on the rock with 

 a suddenness in keeping with the short duration of its song, 

 which is rarely heard after the eggs are hatched." 



And Mr. Oliver Davie gives the following description of their 

 nests and eggs: 



"From four to six dark, chocolate colored eggs are laid, the 

 surface of which is marked or overlaid with numerous specks 

 and streaks of grayish brown. A set of five eggs in Mr. Norris's 

 cabinet were taken July 3, 1888, on Mount Audubon, Snowy 

 Range, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, at an elevation of 11,000 

 feet. The nest was well concealed, being at the side of, and 

 partly under, a large stone. It was composed wholly of grasses. 

 The eggs are grayish white, but so thickly are they covered with 

 specks of hair brown, that they appear to be almost of a uni- 

 form tint of brown. At the larger end these specks are heavier, 

 producing the appearance of darker color. The five eggs meas- 

 ure, .79x.58, .78x.58, .Six. 58, .Six. 58, .80x.55, respect- 

 ively. The average size is .78x.58." 



SUBGENUS NEOCORYS SCLATEB. 



"Bill half as long as head; the culmen concave at the base, slightly decurved 

 at the tip. Rictus without bristles. Legs stout; tarsi distinctly scutellate, longer 

 than the middle toe. Hind toe very long, equal to the tarsus, much longer than 

 the middle toe; its claws but slightly curved, and about half the total length. 

 Inner lateral toe rather longer than outer. Wings much longer than tarsi; first 

 quill longest. Tertials considerably longer than secondaries. Tail rather short; 

 emarginate." 



