104 CHONDESTES GRAMMACA. 



occur as commonly on the sea shore, in fact I never found it breeding on the salt marshes. 

 It frequently chooses rye or other grain fields in which to build its nests that are placed 

 on the ground, usually in some slight depression of the soil, but without any attempt at 

 concealment. Indeed the birds appear to avoid spots that are thickly covered with herb- 

 age, and when they select greensward will place their domicile on the most barren portion 

 where there is a sparse growth of grass. The eggs arc laid about the first of May, the 

 Bay-wing being one of the earliest among the Sparrows to breed, and then another litter is 

 deposited later. 



The brown-backed female sits closely and is extremely difficult to distinguish when 

 on the nest, so that one may pass quite near the spot without noticing her. When start- 

 ed she will run away, seldom attempting to fly until she has gone some distance. Both 

 sexes exhibit great solicitude upon being disturbed and the females will feign lameness 

 like the Savannah. The Bay-wings migrate with the other Sparrows and go as far south 

 as Middle Florida, but are never found off the plantations where they spend their time run- 

 ning about beneath the cotton-plants or through the sugar-cane in search of fallen seeds, 

 occasionally catching insects, and to all appearance feeling as much at home as when in. 

 the corn fields of New England. 



GENUS IX CHONDESTES. THE PRAIRIE SPARROWS. 



GEX. CH. Bill, rather pointed. Wings, longer than the tail which is well rounded. Tertiaries, shorter than second- 

 aries. Sternum, similar to that of Poo-cctcs, but is a little wider proportionately. Size, large. 



Nearly all the tail feathers are prominently marked with white. Superciliary line, white. No streaking* below in the 

 adult stages but there is a central spot on the breast. 



CHONDESTES GRAMMACA. 



Lark Finch. 

 Chondestes grammaca Bon., List, 1838. 



SP. CH. Form, rather slender. Size, large. 'Tongue, thin and horny but with no terminal fringe. Sternum, as given 

 under generic characters. 



COLOR. Adult. Upper portion of body, yellowish-rufous, streaked on the back and nape with dark-brown. Wings, and 

 two central tail feathers, brown, with the outer edges of all the feathers yellowish-rufous, remainder of tail, black, with the 

 outer webs of outer feathers and terminal portion of all but central pair, white. Top of head and ear coverts, chestnut. 

 Median line from bill to occiput, superciliary line, crescent below eye, yellowish-white. Beneath, white, tinged on the 

 breast, sides, and flanks, with yellowish. Forehead, line through eye, spot under white crescent, maxillary, and spot on 

 center of breast, black. Edge of wing, white. Bill, brown, lighter at base of lower mandible. Feet, pale-brown. 



Young. The white on the tail is less extended. The black is not as distinct and the under portions are overwashed 

 with yellowish. 



Nestlings. Are streaked on the breast. There is no indication of bars on the wing and the colors above are more suf- 

 fused. Sexes quite similar in all stages. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the white of the tail taken in connection with the chestnut, black, and white markings of the head. The 

 tongue, like that of Pooscetes gramineus Is much slenderer than those of other members of this family which I have exam 

 ined and is also remarkable in having no terminal cilia or hair-like fibers; there is a general uniformity of coloration, but the 

 chestnut of the head varies slightly in individuals. Distributed through the United States west of the Ohio, wintering in 

 the more southern portions. It has, however, been seen at Washington by Mr. Ridgway in August, 1877. One was taken 

 at Gloucester in the autumn, some thirty years ago, and I had one brought in that was taken near my place on November 

 22, 1877. Prof. Baird wrote me some three years since that a specimen was obtained in the autuum by Mr. W. B. 

 near Sarasota Bay, Florida. This species appears to be spreading eastward. 



