THE LECONTE'S SPARROW. 



. (Ammodramus leconteii.) 



The Leconte's Sparrow has an inter- 

 esting history. It was first discovered 

 and named by Audubon in 1843. Later, 

 his account seemed almost a myth, for no 

 more individuals were taken, and even 

 the specimen on which he based his pub- 

 lished report of the new species was lost. 

 It was not seen again until Dr. Coues 

 rediscovered it in 1873, obtaining his 

 specimens on the Turtle Mountain, near 

 the border of Dakota. 



Of their habits, Dr. Coues says : 'Tri 

 their mode of flight the birds resemble 

 wrens; a simile which suggested itself 

 to me at the time was that of a bee re- 

 turning home laden with pollen ; they 

 flew straight and steady enough, but 

 rather feebly, as if heavily freighted for 

 their very short wings." 



Its range is quite extensive, for it is 

 found from the Great Plains eastward 

 through Illinois and Indiana and from 

 Manitoba southward. During the 

 winter months it frequents the 

 States bordering the Gulf of Mex- 

 ico. This Sparrow is often seen 

 in the stubble of grain fields which have 

 become covered with grass and low 

 weeds, to the cover of which it will re- 

 treat when frightened. In this respect 

 it resembles the grasshopper sparrow, 

 and like it is easily overlooked. Mr. 

 Nelson found it on moist prairies that 

 were covered with a growth of coarse 



grass. It is also frequently seen in the 

 swampy prairies of the Mississippi bot- 

 tom lands. 



Mr. Oliver Davie quotes the follow- 

 ing description of the bird's habits from 

 an observer who studied their habits in 

 Manitoba, where they nest extensively: 

 "Leconte's Sparrows are fairly numer- 

 ous in Manitoba. Their peculiar note 

 can be heard both day and night in fine 

 weather; the only sound I can compare 

 it to is the note of the grasshopper. It 

 is one of the most difficult of all the 

 small birds to collect that I know of. 

 They are great skulkers. I have often 

 followed them, guided by their chirping, 

 in the grass until I was sure the bird 

 was not more than a few yards away; 

 then he would suddenly 'crowd on all 

 sail' and dart away at a high rate of 

 speed, gyrating from side to side in a 

 manner that would test the skill of any 

 collector." 



The nests are described as concealed 

 in a thick tuft of grass and are rather 

 deep and cup shaped. They are con- 

 structed of fine grass and fibers. 



Though this elegant little Sparrov^^ 

 bafflled bird lovers for so many years, 

 it is now known to be abundant in many 

 localities, and it is only because of its 

 peculiar and retiring habits, living as it 

 does in grassy places not easily accessi- 

 ble, that it is not more often observed. 



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