Open Nests on the Ground 



Brft'iliiig Range — The Eastern States, from \'irginia to Massachu- 

 setts, ■' westward to the edge of the phiins." 



The nest is somewhat roughly built of coarse grass, placed 

 on the ground often in a slight depression, or close against a 

 tussock in the open tlelds. The eggs, 3 to ^ in number, are 

 white or nearh' \\-hite, with distinct brown and purplish spots, 

 more numerous at the larger end. Size — ,73 x .s6. 



This shy and unobtrusi\'e sparrow is rather difficult to find, 

 owing to its habit of remaining in the thick grass unless forced 

 to flv. In its short, jerk\' flight it resembles its near relation, the 

 vellow-winged or grasshopper sparrow. Generallv speaking, it 

 prefers the more moist fields to those that are ver^■ drv. The 

 nest, as in the case of other birds of similar habits, is well and 

 carefully hidden in the grass. In Illinois, eggs ha^■e been 

 found as earh" as April 20th and as late as August 12th. Mr. 

 Brewster sa^■s that this sparrow breeds commonly but \'erv 

 locally in the eastern part of Massachusetts, quite numeroush' in 

 portions of Worcester Count\-, sparingly and locally in Berkshire 

 County. 



549. Sharp-tailed Sparrow; Ammodramus caudacutus 



^Gmel.) 



Adult — Upper parts greenish brown: alight gray line through 

 centre of crown, which is brown ; bend of wing light yel- 

 low ; throat and belly white or whitish : breast light butTy 

 brown \\'\X\\ dark streaks. The tail feathers, as the bird's 

 name implies, are \'ery sharply pointed, the outer feathers 

 being much shorter than those in the middle. Length — ^.85. 



B/reaiiig Range — From South Carolina along the coast to New 

 Hampshire. 



The nest is placed on the ground in the sedge or grass in or 

 near the salt marshes : it is built of dry sea-weed and grasses, 

 fine grasses being used for the lining. 4 or s eggs are laid, 

 usually ^ : they are white or whitish with numerous fine bro\\-n 

 or reddish spots chietly at the larger end. Size — .77 x .55. See 

 Fig. I, Plate B. ' " 



The Sharp-tailed Sparro\\' resembles the seaside sparrow in its 

 choice of locality, being found always near the salt water, choosing 

 for its nesting place either the brackish or salt-water swamps, or 



45 



