106 PASSEBELLA IL1ACA. 



they may be unsurpassed for sweetness and tender expression, but the end comes and finds 

 us only half satisfied, as if the songster had withheld something which were ours by right 

 and which he could give us if he would. Not so the Lark Finch, for not only docs he sing 

 early and late, long and often, but he seems to put his whole soul into the eifort, or per- 

 haps better, to send forth his lay without effort and to never tire. During the pairing time 

 I have seen several males in pursuit of a female who with affected coyness led them a 

 rapid chase through the tangled maze of brush and foliage, and as they pressed ardently 

 on each gave voice to a hurried strain of melody which blent into a whole, and marked 

 their track as it were by a continuous stream of music. 



"By the last of July or early August the young are all well on the wing and the birds 

 then assemble in flocks irrespective of age or sex and so continue until the ensuing spring. 

 In Florida, New England, and the states bordering on the coast, it has hitherto been looked 

 upon as a mere straggler. But so many instances of its capture are now coming to light 

 in the latter named sections that it would almost appear as if the species were actually 

 from some cause moving eastward, and it may eventually take its place in the Eastern 

 fauna as a regular inhabitant." 



GENUS X PASSERELLA. THE RUFOUS. SPARROWS. 



GEN. Cn. Bill, rather pointed. Wings, longer than llie tail which is sliyhtly rounded. Tcrtiaries, much shorter than 

 secondaries. Sternum, proportionately stouter than that of Chondcstcs, with the coracoids shorter and the keel hiyhcr, it is 

 not, however, equal in heiyht to one ha/ftlic length of tlie coracoids. Size, large. 



All the species are prominently marked on the rump and tail with bright rufous. They are also streaked below. No 

 prominent lines over the eye or white markings on the tail. 



PASSEEELLA ILIACA. 



Pox-colored Sparrow. 

 Patscrella iliaca Sw., Birds, II, 1837, 288. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, very robust. Size, large. Tongue, somewhat fleshy, bifid at the extremity but without the terminal 

 cilia. Sternum, as given under generic characters. 



COLOR. Adult. Top of head slaty, streaked and tinged with dark-rufous. Remainder of upper portion, including the 

 wings and tail, bright-rufous, clearest on the rump, with the edges of the feathers of the back yellowish-slate. There are 

 two whitish wing bars. Beneath, white, streaked and spotted on the throat, breast, sides, and flanks, with bright-rufous. 

 Abdomen, marked with triangular spots of dark-brown, Under tail coverts, tinged with yellowish. Ear coverts, rufous. 

 Bill, brown, yellow on lower mandible. Feet, brown. 



Young. Quite similar to the above, but the slaty is nearly concealed by the rufous which is more extended on the back. 

 The rufous below is lighter and there are few or no dark-brown markings on the abdomen. Sexes usually similar in all 

 stages, but the females are sometimes duller. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is a general uniformity of coloration above but the shade varies somewhat. Below, however, there is more vari- 

 ation. Frequently there are white maxillary lines, below which is one of rufou, when the throat is white oronly sparse- 

 ly spotted. There is sometimes a clustering of rufous spots on the central breast, but occasionally these will be dusky. 

 Rarely the centers of the feathers of the sides and flanks will be dusky. The above changes from the type are purely indi- 

 vidual variation not dependent upon age or sex. 



Known from the allied species by the bright rnfous markings above and below, which will also distinguish them from 

 all other Sparrows. Distributed during summer throughout the Eastern section of North America, above latitude 47- . 

 Winters from New Jersey to Georgia. Rare in Florida. 



