242 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



The Lark Sparrow was taken at Raleigh, August 19, 1889, on which occasion a 

 second specimen was seen but not obtained. A nest which had been deserted by 

 the birds was found on July 24, 1890, and contained four eggs. C. S. Brimley 

 recorded one on October 23, 1893. It has also been taken at Cranberry, Mitchell 

 County, August 9, 1886, by G. B. Sennett (W. W. Cooke in Bird-Lore, March- 

 April, 1911, page 86). 



The Lark Sparrow is preeminently a bird of the fields or plains, building its 

 nest in a depression in the ground, where it is usually concealed by the surround- 

 ing tufts of grass. It is constructed of grasses and weed stems. Four eggs are 

 laid, more like those of an oriole than a typical sparrow. They have a pure white 

 ground-color, speckled and marked with zigzag, straight, and wavy lines of very 

 dark brown and black, chiefly near the larger end. Size .82 x .64. They are said 

 to be laid from May to July. 



Genus Zonotrichia (Swains.) 



Contains several species of sparrows, with the head broadly striped above, and 

 the wings and tail about equal in length. 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Throat white, breast ash. Superciliary line yellow in front. While-throated Sparrow. 

 1. Throat and breast same color, whitish. No yellow. White-crowned Sparrow. 



FIG. 192. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. 



234. Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys (Forst.). WHITE-CROWNED SPAR- 

 ROW. 



Description: Ads. No yellow before the eye or on the bend of the wing; center of crown white, 

 bordered on either side by black stripes; no white before the eye; a white line from over the eye 

 passes backward along the side of the head; nape gray; back dark grayish brown, margined with 

 gray; rump dark brownish ash; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white; tail fuscous; 

 underparts grayish, white on the belly, flanks and under tail-coverts cream-buff. Im. -Similar, 

 but much browner, sides of the crown rufous-brown, center of the crown pale grayish brown; 

 nape brownish ash; back margined with the same color. L., 6.88; W., 3.03; T., 2.88; B., .43. 

 (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. Whole United States, except southeastern portion, in winter; breeding mainly north 

 of the United States. 



Range in North Carolina. So far, known only as an accidental visitor in Wake and Buncombe 

 counties. 



