236 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



reported it as very abundant everywhere outside of the marsh during the same 

 period of the year. At Pea Island Bishop reported it the most abundant bird in 

 February, 1901. At Weaverville, in Buncombe County, Cairns called it a common 

 winter visitor, and in his migration schedule reports it from August 20 to April 24, 

 adding the remark that it breeds on the higher mountains. The earliest fall record 

 for Raleigh is September 16, 1887; but this is unusually early, for the time of 

 arrival is generally in October. 



FIG. 185. SAVANNAH SPARROW. 



The nest is said to be sunken in the ground, and well concealed among weeds 

 and grass, being nothing more than an arrangement of grasses in concentric rings, 

 the rim being flush with the ground. The eggs are four or five in number. They 

 are of a greenish or grayish-white ground-color, speckled and blotched with light 

 brown and lilac, particularly about the larger end, the markings being often so 

 numerous that they almost conceal the ground-color. Size .75 x .35. 



The Savannah Sparrow is a shy bird, hiding close in the grass until flushed by 

 a near approach. In the spring it is often found on wet meadows, but during the 

 rest of the winter is confined mainly to dry uplands. 



The Western Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus (Bonap.), is more gray 

 in color than the eastern form. H. L. Coggins (see Auk, Oct., 1901, p. 397) states that 14 Savan- 

 nah Sparrows collected by H. H. and C. S. Brimley at Raleigh, and forming part of the Hoopes 

 collection in the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, belong to this form. He also 

 thinks that they may be merely transients, as none of the specimens were taken in February or 

 March; but this is a mistake, as Savannah Sparrows occur here every month from October to 

 May, both inclusive. Possibly, if Mr. Coggins is correct, all our Raleigh specimens belong to this 

 form. Bishop records taking a young male of this form on Pea Island, December 14, 1908. Ridg- 

 way and Oberholser, however, upon examining the specimen, both pronounced it the eastern 

 form. The 1910 edition of the American Ornithologists' Union Check List does not give this bird 

 as ever having occurred east of the Mississippi River. 



Genus Ammodramus (Swains.) 



225. Ammodramus savannarum australis (Mayn.). GRASSHOPPER SPAR- 

 ROW. 



Description. Much streaked above; breast buffy, usually, but not always, unstreaked; edge 

 and bend of wing and line over eye yellow. Measurements of 40 specimens from Raleigh: L., 

 4.90-5.35; W., 2.18-2.55; T., 1.50-1.95. 



Range. Eastern North America, wintering in extreme southern portion. 



Range in North Carolina. Central and western portions in summer. 



