234 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



ochraceous- and cream-buff; tail fuscous, the two outer feathers with more or less white; belly 

 white; sides streaked with black. Ad. female in summer. Upparparts streaked with black, 

 rufous, ochraceous- and cream-buff; nape ochraceous-buff, the color sometimes concealed by 

 the tips of the feathers; tail fuscous, the outer one or two feathers marked with white; underparts 

 white, the_breast and sides streaked with black and ochraceous-buff. Male in winter. 'Similar 

 to female in summer, but upperparts blacker, nape more rufous, breast more heavily marked 

 with black, most of the feathers black at the base. Female in winter. 'Similar to female in summer, 

 but upperparts duller, nape with little or no ochraceous. L., 6.25; W, 3.75; T., 2.55; B., .40. 



Remarks. In some plumages this bird bears a general resemblance to certain sparrows, but 

 differs from them in having the hind toe-nail as long as or longer than the toe. (Chap.. Birds of 

 E. N. A.) 



Range. Circumpolar regions, south in winter over most of the United States. 



Range in North Carolina. So far, only taken at Raleigh. 



The Lapland Longspur, also known as the Lapland Bunting, has been taken at 

 Raleigh on January 13 and 14, 1893 (one each day), and on February 20, 1895 

 (four secured). All the specimens were in company with flocks of Horned Larks, 

 and all were secured in the same field. 



Like the preceding species, the Longspur usually congregates in large flocks. It 

 ranges much farther south in the flat country west of the Mississippi than it does 

 on the Atlantic Slope. 



Genus Pocecetes (Baird) 



222. Pocecetes gramineus gramineus (GmeL). VESPER SPARROW. 



Description: Ads. Upperparts brownish gray, streaked with black and a little ochraceous- 

 buff; wings fuscous, greater and middle coverts tipped with white, lesser coverts bright rufous; 

 tail fuscous, the outer feather mostly white, the next one much less white; underparts white; the 

 breast and sides streaked with black and ochraceous-buff. L., 6.12; W., 3.06; T., 2.38; B., .41. 



Remarks. The white tail-feathers and rufous lesser wing-coverts will always distinguish this 

 species from any other of our sparrows. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Eastern United States, breeding mainly north of North Carolina. 



Range in North Carolina. Winter visitor in the central and eastern sections; resident in at 

 least portions of the mountain region. 



FIG. 184. VESPER SPARROW. 



The Vesper Sparrow, also known as the Bay-winged^Bunting and Grass Finch, 

 is a common winter visitor in open fields in most parts of the State. Cairns called 

 it a resident in Buncombe County, and further stated that it is usually found on 

 high pasture land, where it commences to breed in April. Armfield took a set of 

 its eggs near Greensboro on June 1, 1893. Sherman and C. S. Brimley found it 

 apparently settled down to breed at Blantyre, Transylvania County, in early May, 

 1908, and Bruner reported it as fairly common at Blowing Rock in the summers of 

 1905 and 1907. 



