Jan., 1909. Birds of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 601 



Olney, the former in Wabash, the latter in Richland county, Illinois." 

 (Orn. of 111., 1889, p. 281.) Mr. Nelson gives it as "common locally 

 in Wabash, Richland, and adjoining counties" (Birds N. E. 111., 1876, 

 p. 151), and Mr. O. C. Poling shot three birds of this species in an 

 apple orchard at Quinc)^ 111., in May, 1887. (The Auk, 1890, p. 242.) 



Mr. Isaac E. Hess found a nest and four eggs of this species at 

 Philo, 111., Champaign Co., on May 26, 1896 (Nidologist, Vol IV, 

 1897, p. 45). 



The nest is made of grass and is built on the ground. The eggs 

 are from 3 to 5, pure white or pale bluish white, and measure about 

 .74 X .60 inches. 



Genus MELOSPIZA Baird. 



267. Melospiza melodia (Wilson). 



Song Sparrow. 



Melospiza fasciata (Gmel.), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, p. 241. 



Distr.: United States and British Provinces, east of the Rocky 

 Mountains; breeds from Kansas, southern Illinois and South Caro- 

 lina northward. 



Adult: Crown, dark rufous chestnut, streaked with gray in the 

 centre; a gray superciliary line and a post-ocular line of chestnut; 



Song Sparrow, 



back. Streaked with dark brown, dull chestnut and grayish; throat, 

 whitish, heavily streaked with blackish brown on the sides; breast, 

 buffy white or grayish white, streaked with dark brown, often run- 



