316 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



Hab. — Eastern Province of North America, breeding from the Northern 

 United States to Labrador and Hudson's Bay Territory. 



Nest, composed of fine withered grass placed in a deep cup-shaped hole 

 in the ground. 



Eggs, four to six, ground color grayish, heavily clouded with chocolate- 

 brown. 



These quiet, unobtrusive little sparrows may be seen and heard 

 in the moist meadows in spring and summer, but they are not very 

 plentiful anywhere. 



Towards the end of August they become abundant along the 

 marshy shores of Hamilton Bay, where they evidently find food to 

 suit their taste, and they continue to enjoy it until reminded by 

 the cool nights in September that it is time to be off to the south. 

 The specimens secured at this season are evidently northern-bred 

 birds, being more fully developed in size and markings than those 

 which breed with us. Often when picking one up, I fancy I have 

 ^ot the Ipswich Sparrow, but so far have not succeeded in doing so. 

 I still think the latter species will be found near Hamilton, for there 

 are several suitable resorts for it which will in future be carefuUy 

 watched at the proper season. 



The Savanna is chiefly an eastern species, going as far north as 

 Labrador and Hudson Bay. In the North- West, it is replaced by 

 the Western Savanna Sparrow, which differs from the present species 

 in having the pale gray colors peculiar to the birds of the prairies. 



Subgenus COTURNICULUS Bonaparte. 

 AMMODRAMUS SAVANNARUM PASSERINUS (Wils.). 



226. Grasshopper Sparrow. (546) 



Edge of wing, conspicuously yellow ; lesser wing coverts and short line over 

 the eye, yellowish ; below, not or not evidently streaked, but fore parts and 

 sides buff, fading to dull white on the belly ; above, singularly variegated with 

 black, gray, yellowish-brown, and a peculiar purplish bay in short streaks and 

 specks, the crown being nearly black, with a sharp median brownish-yellow 

 line, the middle of the back chiefly black, with bay and brownish-yellow 

 edgings of the feathers, the cervical region and rump chiefly gray, mixed with 

 bay ; wing coverts and inner quills, variegated like the back ; feet, pale. 

 Young: — Similar, not so bufly below, and with pectoral and maxillary dusky 

 spots. Length, 4J-5J ; wing, 2J ; tail, 2 or less, the outstretched feet reaching 

 to or beyond its end. 



