FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 395 



eye and through the center of the crown; a black streak on the sides of the 

 throat; upperparts brownish ash; back streaked with blackish; tail fuscous 

 or black, the outer feathers tipped with white; underparts white, a small 

 black spot in the middle of the breast. L., 6'25; W., 3'50; T., 275; B., '45. 



Range. Miss. Valley e. of the Great Plains. Breeds mainly in Austral 

 zones from e. Nebr., nw. Minn., cen. Wise., and s. Ont. s. to s. La. and cen. 

 Ala. and e. to w. Pa., w. Md., and nw. W. Va. ; casual in N. S., N. Y., Mass., 

 N. J., D. C., N. C., and Fla.; winter home unknown, except in s. Miss. 



Washington, A. V., Aug., two captures. N. Ohio, rare S. R., Apl. 28. 

 Glen Ellyn, local and uncommon S. R. SE. Minn., common S. R., Apl. 20- 

 Aug. 2. 



Nest, of grasses, lined with rootlets, fine grasses, and long hairs, on the 

 ground or in low trees or bushes. Eggs, 3-5, white or pinkish white, spotted, 

 blotched, or scrawled with purplish or black, chiefly at the larger end, 

 78 x '60. Date, se. Minn., May 17. 



This is a common bird in the West. It frequents localities of much 

 the same nature as those selected by the Grass Finch, and in its general 

 habits reminds one of that species. The song is described by Ridgway 

 ("Birds of Ills.," I, p. 262) as "composed of a series of chants, each syllable 

 rich, loud, and clear, interspersed with 

 emotional trills. At the beginning the 

 song reminds one somewhat of that of 

 the Indigo Bird (Passerina cyanea}, but 

 the notes are louder and more metallic, 

 and their delivery more vigorous. 

 TjThough seemingly hurried, it is one 

 continued gush of sprightly music ; 

 now gay, now melodious, and then 

 tender beyond description the very 

 expression of emotion. At intervals FlG - 



.,. ,. .,. , ,11 



the singer 1 alters, as 11 exhausted by 

 exertion, and his voice becomes scarcely audible; but suddenly reviv- 

 ing in his joy it is resumed in all its vigor until he appears to be really 

 overcome by the effort." 



553. Zonotrichia querula (Nutt.). HARRIS'S SPARROW. Bill pinkish; 

 crown and throat or breast more or less black. Ads. Crown, throat, breast 

 and lores glossy black, cheeks gray; above brownish gray streaked with 

 black; rump brownish ashy, tail fuscous-gray; two white wing-bars; belly 

 white, sides with blackish streaks. Im. Similar, but crown tipped with 

 brownish; breast, and sometimes throat, with black streaks or blotches; 

 cheeks, flanks and under tail-coverts buffy. L., 7'50; W., 3'50; T., 3'25; 

 B., -50. 



Range. Cen. N. A. Breeds in Hudsonian zone at Ft. Churchill, 

 Hudson Bay, Artillery Lake, Mackenzie, and probably to Great Bear Lake 

 and the district just s. of the Barren Grounds; in migration ranges e. to w. 

 Ont. and e. Ills., and w. to cen. Mont, and e. Colo.; winters from n. Kans. 

 and w. Mo. s. to s. Tex.; casual in B. C.; accidental in Calif., Ore., Wash., 

 and Ohio. Glen Ellyn, one record, May 19, 1897. SE. Minn., common T. V., 

 May 6-?; Sept. 21-Oct. 25. 



Nest (found Aug. 5, 1907, by E. T. Seton, at Last Wood, Great Slave 

 Lake, and the only one known), "was on the ground under a dwarf birch, was 

 made of grass and resembled the nest of a White-throated Sparrow. It con- 

 tained three young nearly ready to fly" (Auk, 1908, 72). 



