SPIZELLA PALLIDA, CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. 149 



Allkx, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 1'872, 177.— Tmppe, Pr. Bost. Soc. 187-2, 2;J7 (Iowa) — 

 Coi-Ks, Kev, 1S:2, 14:5.— Sxow, B. Kans. 1873, 7.— B. B. & E., N. A. B. ii, 1^174. 

 ■ 11, pi. 27, i 3. 



Sphiites palUdus, Cab., JIus. Hein. i, 1H51, 133. 



Zoiioirichia {Sjyi^cUa) pallida, Gray, Hand-list, No. 7400. 



Emberha slmttiiclii, AuD., B. Am. vii, 1843, 347, pi. 493. 



Spizella shaUuclii, Bp., Cousp. i, 18d0, 480. 



Sali. — From the Saskatchewan and Upper Jlisaouri to Eastern Kansas. To Texas 

 {Baird). East into Iowa {Trippe), Wisconsin (Hoji), and Illinois {Holdcn). 



Lieutenant TFarmi's Expedition. — No. , Cheyenne River; 4803, "Nebraska;" 



48U4, Bijoux Hills; 5414, Blacktbot country. 



Not obtained by Captain Raynolds' Expedition. • 



The typical form of this species appears to be one of the more char- 

 acteristic birds of the high central plains. It was originally described 

 by Swainson from the region of the Sasliatchewan. Dr. Eichardsuii 

 says that it was very abundant at Carlton House, and as familiar as the 

 Chipping is in the Eastern States. Audubon's account of '■'■I^mherizu 

 pnllkla'^ presents nothing incompatible with the typical form ; but the 

 specimens, on which his description was based, procured by Towiiseud 

 in the "Eocky Mountains," and now iu the Smithsonian, have been iden- 

 tified by Prof. Baird with breweri, which renders it necessary to turn 

 ^^pallifki., AuD.," over to the latter variety, although indeed his quota- 

 tions, and the habitat he assigns, are those of true pallida. He after- 

 ward described the typical jAissouri bird as JE. shattucldi, giving the 

 following account : 



"This handsome little species is found quite abundant throughout the 

 country bordering on the Upper Missouri. It inhabits with particuLir 

 partiality the small valleys found here and there along the numerous 

 ravines running from the interior, and between such hills as I have al- 

 ready mentioned. Its usual demeanor resembles much that of the 

 Chipping Bunting, Embeyiia socialis of Wilson, and like it, it spends 

 much of its time in singing its monotonous dilties, while its mate is en- 

 gaged in the pleasing task of incubation. When approached, it will 

 dive and conceal itself either amid the low bushes around, or will serk 

 a large cluster of wild roses, so abundant in that section of country, 

 and the fragrance of which will reach the olfactory nerve of the trav- 

 eler or gunner for many paces. 



_ "The nest of the Shattuck Bunting is usually placed on a small hori- 

 zontal branch, seven or eight feet from the ground ; and I believe it is 

 occasionally placed in the broken and hollow branches of trees. The 

 eggs, four or live in number, are blue, spotted with reddish-brown to- 

 ward the large end, and placed in a nest so slightly formed of slender 

 grasses, circularly lined with horse or cattle hair, as to resemble as much 

 as possible the uest of the species to which it is allied." These observa- 

 tions differ somewhat from my own, given beyond. 



I found this bird in small numbers on the Republican Fork of the 

 Kansas Elver, near Fort Eiley, in May, frequenting shrubbery along- 

 the stream, and also open, ^veedy places away from the water ; but I 

 noticed nothing peculiar in its manners, which were the same as th<ise 

 of the Chip-bird. ilr. Allen found it common at Topeka, in the saujc 

 State, associating there with *S'. socialis. He also quotes '■'■pallida^' from 

 Utah ; but as he does not recognize the distinction of var. bretceri, his 

 observations undoubtedly refer to the latter. 



The eastward extension of 8. pallida has only been of late generally 

 recognized; it seems to correspond somewhat with that of Vireo belli. 

 In Iowa, according to 'Mt. Trijjpe, it is common in spring; ''frequents 

 the thickets and copses along the margins of the woods, and has some- 



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