588 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 



List of specimens. 



PASSEROULUS SAVANNA, ( Wils.) Bp. 



Savanna Sparkow. 



Breeds in profusion throughout the region explored. Though not 

 exclusively a bird of the prairie, it seems to be as much at home in the 

 open plains as anywhere, associating intimately with Centronyx and 

 the two leading species of Plectrophanes. It is also found, however, in 

 the brush along the streams and larger rivers, which are unfrequented 

 by the species just named, in company with the Melospizce and Juncones. 

 A large suite of specimens was taken, a part of it, however, unin- 

 tentionally, for it is not an easy matter to always distinguish between 

 the Savanna Sparrow and Baird's Bunting at gunshot range; and when 

 I have killed a bird, I generally make a point of preserving it, even 

 though it is not particularly wanted as a specimen, in order that its life 

 may not have been taken in vain. The nest is placed on the ground, 

 simply built of dried grasses, with a lining of horse-hair,* the eggs are 

 four or five in number, in this locality usually laid in the first half of 

 June. Like nearly all the Fringilline birds of this region, the Savanna 

 Sparrow is frequently the Cowbird's foster parent, and in one instance 

 that came under my observation the nest contained two of the alien 

 eggs. 



List of specimens. 



