BIRDS OF INDIANA. 949 



129. GENUS CHONDESTES SWAINSON. 



*215. (552). Chondestes grammacus (SAY.). 



Lark Sparrow. 



Adult. Crown, chestnut, black towards forehead, divided by a mid- 

 dle stripe of whitish; stripe over eye, one from the angle of the mouth, 

 meeting it behind the ear-coverts, and a crescent below the eye, whit- 

 ish; a black stripe through and one below the eye, and one on each side 

 of the throat; ear-coverts, chestnut; remainder of upper parts, pale 

 grayish-olive, the back with blackish markings. Below, white; a small 

 black spot in the middle of the breast; tail, rounded; outer tail feathers 



Head of Lark Sparrow. Natural size. 



edged with white; others, except the middle pair, tipped with white, 

 which the bird shows as it flies with the tail partly spread. Imma- 

 ture. More buffy; chest streaked with dusky. 



Length, 6.50-7.25; wing, 3.35-3.70; tail, 2.60-3.35. 



RANGE. Interior of North America, north to Manitoba and from 

 Ohio, Indiana and Ontario west to the plains. Breeds throughout its 

 range. Accidental on Atlantic Coast north to Massachusetts. Winters 

 from Texas south. 



Nest, of grass, rootlets and hair; on the ground or in low bushes. 

 Eggs, 3-5; white, bluish or pinkish- white, speckled and lined chiefly 

 at the larger end with black and dark-brown; .80 by .61. 



The Lark Sparrow is a prairie species that is year by year extending 

 its way into the former forest area. In 1861 it made its first appear- 

 ance in Ohio, and about the same time appeared in Ontario. In 1879 

 it was common throughout central Ohio, but both north and south 

 of there it was rare. In Indiana it is most numerous through the 

 central part of the State. It was rather rare until recently in southern 

 Indiana, and is still scarce in many localities northward. Everywhere 



