BIRDS OF INDIANA. 933 



about a hundred, two days later. Mr. C. A. Tallman reported seeing 

 a hundred and fifty. Each of these gentlemen saw them repeatedly 

 that spring, as did also Mr. Parker. They were last noted May 2. 

 March 29, 1894, Mr. Jesse Earlle found about sixty Smith's Longspurs 

 in a field about three miles west of Greencastle, Ind. Of these, he 

 obtained two specimens. 



Smith's Longspur is a bird of the interior of America, frequenting 

 the great interior plains of the United States and the interior valleys 

 of British America. It breeds in the valleys of the Anderson and 

 Mackenzie rivers very numerously. It is not found breeding on the 

 Atlantic or Pacific coast. 



The nest, like that of the last species, is placed on the ground, and 

 is made of grasses, lined with finer materials of the same kind, down 

 and feathers. 



126. GENUS POOOETES BAIRD. 



*208. (540). Poocaetes gramineus (GMBL.). 



Vesper Sparrow. 

 Synonyms, BAY WINGED BUNTING, GRASS FINCH. 



Thickly streaked everywhere, above, on sides and across breast; no 

 yellow anywhere; lesser wing coverts, chestnut, and one to three outer 

 pairs of tail feathers, partly or wholly white; above, grayish-brown, 

 the streaking, dusky and brown, with grayish-white; below, white, 

 usually buffy-tinged, the streaks very numerous on the fore part and 

 sides; wing coverts and inner quills, much edged and tipped with bay; 

 crown, like back, without median stripe; line over and ring round eye, 

 whitish; feet, pale. 



Length, 5.50-6.70; wing, 2.95-3.40; tail, 2.40-2.75. 



RANGE. Eastern North America, west to plains, north to Nova 

 Scotia, Ontario and Manitoba. Breeds from 'Virginia, Kentucky and 

 Missouri, north. Winters from southern Indiana and Virginia, south. 



Nest, in open field, in a depression in the ground, of grass, lined with 

 hair. Eggs, 4-5; white, sometimes greenish or pinkish, blotched and 

 lined with various shades of reddish-brown; .80 by .60. 



The Vesper Sparrow is found commonly throughout Indiana from 

 March to November. Mr. J. 0. Balmer informs me it is also found 

 through winter in Knox County, and doubtless occurs from that lati- 

 tude south, some winters at least. At Brookville, I have found it as 

 early as February 15, 1882, and until November 19, 1894. Usually, 

 however, they appear near March 20, and, while many leave through 



