NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 369 



ground, usually in an exposed position, under a thistle, small bush, or weed-stalk; it 

 it 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 .80x.60 inches. 



540a. WESTEBN VESPER SPARROW. Pooccetes gramineus conflnis Baird. 

 Geog. Dist. — ^Western United States, 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, nest- 

 ing also in the same manner. 



5406. OREGON VESPER SPARROW. Pooccetes gramineus affinis. 

 Miller. Geog. Dist. — Northern California and Western Oregon. 



This race of the Vesper Sparrow was first described by Mr. G. S. Miller, jr.. In 

 The Auk for October, 1888, He describes it from the type specimen taken at Salem, 

 Oregon, as similar to that of P. g. conflnis of Baird, but differing in being smaller and 

 having the ground color above buffy-brown rather than grayish-brown, etc. Its 

 general habits, nesting and eggs are the same as those of the Western Vesper 

 Sparrow. 



541. IPSWICH SPARROW. Ammodramus princeps (Mayn.) Geog. Dist.— At- 

 lantic coast from Nova Scotia, south in winter to Virginia and coast of Texas. 



It has recently been discovered that the Ipswich Sparrow breeds on Sable Island, 

 Nova Scotia, and a series of its eggs are in the National Museum. These are similar 

 to the eggs of the Savannah Sparrow, and, according to Ridgway, they are uniformly 

 larger; size .81x.62. The nest is placed on. the ground in meadows and other grassy 

 places. 



542. SANDWICH SPARROW. Ammodramus sandwicJiensis (Gmel.) Geog. 

 Dist. — Northwest coast, from the Columbia River to Unalaska. 



This Sparrow is very similar to the next subspecies. Nests and eggs indis- 

 tinguishable. 



542a. SAVANNAH SPARROW. Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna (Wils.) 

 Geog. Dist. — Eastern North America, breeding from Northern United States to Labra- 

 dor, and Hudson Bay Territory. 



A rather common, and in some places, an abundant bird in Eastern United 

 States, usually breeding from about latitude 40° northward. It is stated as breeding 

 sparingly throughout Illinois and in some parts of Missouri. In Ohio it is a rare 

 summer resident. Throughout New 

 England the Savannah Sparrow is 

 abundant, being found nearly all the 

 year. Its favorite resorts are salt 



marshes along the coast, and wet, 

 muddy, open ground, overgrown with 

 grass and weeds in the interior. It is 

 a terrestrial bird, and Is known as the 

 "Ground Sparrow." Its song is weak, 

 squeaks and unmusical, which Is at 

 times uttered from the ground, or from 

 the tops of bushes. The breeding sea- 

 son is in May and June. The nest is 

 sunken in the ground, and generally ' 543^, sj^v^^^^n Sparkow 



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