^;?- 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 297 



marked with dark reddish-brown spots and blotches, even approaching 

 black, and obscure shell markings of purple; sizes .75X.54, .74X.54, 



•73X.54, -73^ -SS- 



539. Rliycliophanes mccownii (Lawr.) [190. J 



MoCoirii's Iiongspor. 



Hab. Interior of North America, breeding from the northern border of Kansas, north to the SaSp 

 katchewan; south in winter to Mexico. 



The Black-breasted or Bay-winged Longspur breeds in abundance 

 throughout the prairies of Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. In the 

 latter region and Dakota it is found associated with the Chestnut-col- 

 lared Longspur, in whose general habits it is an exact counterpart. Dr. 

 Coues says it has the same soaring, singing flight, and parachute-like 

 descent, " sliding down on the scale of its own music." 



Its nesting habits are the same as those of the last species, and 

 the eggs, three to six in number, are similar, but their ground-color is 

 usually more olive ; average size .82 x .60. 



540. Poocsetes gramineus (Gmel.) [197.J 



Vesper Sparrow. 



Hab. Eastern United States, west to the edge of the Plains, north to Nova Scotia and Ontario, breed- 

 ing southward to Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri. 



The Grass-Finch, Bay-winged Bunting, or " Gray Bird," as it is 

 called, is an abundant species in Eastern United States. Its favorite 

 resorts are weedy fields, roadsides, and commons. From its habit of 

 singing mostly in the evening and in cloudy weather, it is called Vesper 

 Bird. The bird's song alone is sufficient to distinguish it from others 

 of the smaller sparrows. Its song is a clear, sweet trill, finely modu- 

 lated, or it is the Song Sparrow's song reversed. 



The breeding season is in May and June. I have found the nest 

 with fresh eggs in July. This is placed on the ground, usually in an 

 exposed position, under a thistle, small bush, or weed-stalk ; it is a 

 slight structure, composed of grasses, with a lining of hair. 



The eggs are four or five, usually four, in number ; they are of a 

 pale greenish-white, sometimes pinkish or grayish-white, marked with 

 blotches, mixed with dots and lines of various shades of reddish or 

 rusty-brown. The average size is .80 x .60. 



540a. Poocffites gramineus confinis Baird [197a.] 



'Western Vesper Sparro'w. 



Hab. Western North America, north into British America, east to Manitoba and border of the Plains, 

 south into Mexico. 



This form of the Vesper Sparrow is common to the plains and 

 prairies of the West. It possesses the same characteristics which are 

 common to P. gramineus^ nesting also in the same manner. 



Mr. Norris has two sets of eggs of this bird, one of which was 



