BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 113 



Centronys Bairdii, Baird. — Baird's Sparrow. 



(See Frontispiece.*) 



Emberiza Bairdii. AuD., Birds America, VII. 1643 ; PI. 600. 

 Cotwrnieidm Bairdii. Bon., Syn. 1850, 481. 

 Centronyx Bairdii. Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 441. 



Sp. Ch. — Back grayish ; the middle of the feathers hav- 

 ing a black centre edged with rufous. Top of head streaked 

 with dusky and pale rufous, divided by a broad stripe of 

 pale yellowish white. There is also a whitish superciliary 

 stripe extending from the base of the biU to the back of 

 the head. Ear-coverts grayish, with a rufous. tinge. Quills 

 brownish, edged with white on the outer web ; scapularies, 

 secondaries, and wing-coverts brownish-black, edged broad- 

 ly with rufous, brightest on the secondaries; scapiilaries 

 also edged narrowly with white ; the ends of both rows of 

 wing-coverts narrowly tipped with white, forming two rather 

 indistinct bars across the wings. , Tail brownish, with the 

 tips of the feathers and terminal half of the outer web of 

 the outer tail-feathers pale yellowish white ; the rest of the 

 tail-feathers narrowly edged with the same. Under parts, 

 including under taU-coverts, pure white. Feathers of the 

 sides of the throat, with a broad band across the breast and 

 sides, streaked with rufous, with dusky centres. The throat 

 is indistinctly spotted with dusky. A triangular spot on 

 the sides of the neck, below the ear-coverts, pale buff; 

 ears dusky. Bill dark brown, with the base of the under 

 mandible paler. Eyes and feet brown. 



Differs from Pooecetes gramineus, which in general form it 

 resembles, in having a central stripe on the' head, and a 

 general rufous appearance, also in having longer tarsi, toes, 

 and claws. With Passerculus savanna it. cannot justly be 

 compared, as it is much larger, and has a shorter and more 



* The convexity of the upper mandible is somewhat exaggerated in the 

 plate. 



