12 NORrn AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Had. Unper Missouri River and high cuntral plains to tho Saskatchewan country. 

 Cape St. Lufa.i, Oaxaca, Mai'oh (Scl. 1859, 370) ; Fort Mohave (CooPKit, P. A. N. S. Cai. 

 IStil, \2'2); Sail Antonio, Texas, spriiig (DiuasEii, Ibis, ISUo, 48!) ; common). 



Tlie asliy collar is quite conspicunn,s, and streaked above with lirown. 

 Tlie i"uni) is iinrnaciilati". The streaks on the feathers of tlio crown aln;ost 

 i'orm continuous lines, about six in numl)er. Tlie brown line above the ear- 

 coverts is a post-ocular one. That on tho side of the chin forms the lower 

 border of a white maxillary stripe which widens and curves around behind 

 tlie ear-coverts, fading into the ashy of tlie neck. The wing-feathers are all 

 margined with paler, and there is an indication of two light bands across the 

 ends of the coverts. 



The young of this species is tliickly streaked beneath over the throat, 

 breast, and belly, wiMi brown, giving to it an entirely dilferont appearance 

 from the adult. The streaks in the upper parts, too, are darker and more 

 conspicuous. The margins of the featliers are rather more rusty. 



This species is readily distinguishable from the other American Spizdlas, 

 except 8. hrcu-eri (wliich see), in the dark streaks and median ashy stripe on 

 the crown, the paler tints, the diirk line on the side of the chin, etc. 



Habits. Tlie Clay-colored liunting was first discovered by Richardson, 

 and described by Swainson, in the Fauna r)or.-Amer. The only statement 

 made in regard to it is that it visited the Saskatchewan in considerable num- 

 bers, frequented the farm-yard at Carlton House, and was in all respects as 

 familiar and confiding as tlie common House Sparrow of P^urope. 



The bird given by Mr. Audubon as the pallida has been made by Mr. 

 Cassin a diiTerent species, S. hrcwcri, and the species the former gives in his 

 seventh volume of the Birds of America as Emhcriza shattuchi is really this 

 species. It was found by Mr. Audulton's party to the Yellowstone quite 

 al)undant throughout the country bordering upon the Upper Alissouri. It 

 seemed to be particularly partial to the small valleys found, here and there, 

 along the numerous ravines running from the interior and between the hills. 

 Its usual demeanor is said to greatly resemble that of the common Chipping 

 Sparrow, and, like that bird, it has a very monotonous ditty, which it seems to 

 deliglit to repeat constantly, wliile its mate is more usefully employed in the 

 duties of incubation. When it was approached, it would dive and conceal 

 itself amid the low bushes .around, or would seek one of the large clusters of 

 wild roses .so abundant in that section. The nest of this species is men- 

 tioned as having been usually placed on a small horizontal branch seven or 

 eight feet from the groinid, and occasionally in the broken and hollow 

 branches of trees. These nests are also stated to have been formed of 

 slender grasses, but in so slight a manner as, with their circular lining of 

 horse or cattle hair, to resemble as much as possible the nest of tiie conmion 

 socialis. The eggs were five in number, and are described as being blue 

 with reddish-brown spots. Tliese birds were also met with at the Gre.at 

 Slave Lake region by Mr. Kennicott, in tlie same neighborhood by B. 11. 



