LIST AND DESCRIPTION 113 



It is an early breeder in northern British America, as 

 young have been taken in Sully County the eighteenth of August. 



538. Chestnut-collared Longspur (Cdcarius ornatus.) 



One of the most familiar birds of our unbroken prairie. 

 To the general Sparrow colors are added a black cap, -chestnut 

 collar, white throat, and breast heavily washed with black. It 

 nests by a bunch of grass and its sweet warble is uttered on the 

 wing after the fashion of the Lark. 



539. McCowan's Longspur (Rhynchophanes m'cowni.) 



This bird is similar in form and habits to the preceding, 

 but the shoulder of the wing is chestnut instead of the collar, 

 the black of the breast does not extend over the belly, and there 

 is a black mustache. This species is not so plentiful as the last, 

 but both are found nesting on the same prairie hills. 



540a. Western Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus confinis.) 



A summer resident, and one of our smallest Sparrows, 

 shoulder patch and white margined outer tail feathers. It sings 

 from some lone pasture tree or bushtop in the evening. 



542a. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis savanna.) 



A summer resident, recognized by the yellow line over 

 the eye, together with the well spotted breast. Most abundant in 

 migration. 



542b. Western Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis 

 alaudinus.) 



Similar to the preceding, but its general appearance is 

 paler, with the line over the eyes gray instead of yellow, and 

 a more slender bill. 



A western species and a migrant in South Dakota. 



545. Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdi.) 



A Sparrow of the western plains, which nests north of us. 



Crown buffy; back black and brown; below, white 

 streaked with black. 



546a. Western Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum 

 bimaculatus.) 



A summer resident, and one of our smallest Sparrows. 



