476 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



Savanna sparrow arrived. They run along among the grasses 

 rather than take flight. The song is a low unattractive s-e-e-t s-k,> 

 emitted either from the ground or from an elevation. They feed 

 about the margin of pools of still water where they seem to pro- 

 cure aquatic insects and grass seeds. Their colours blend most per- 

 fectly with such surroundings and it is only by persevering watch- 

 fulness that an observer may see them, unless they happen to 

 take flight. The nests are built back from the water where there 

 is no danger from an overflow and are fairly well concealed. The 

 few nests observed have been built of dried grass blades through- 

 out, the lining being composed of the finest material. One nest 

 was a mere film of blades, scarce compact enough to lift from the 

 depression where it was placed. It was built under the side of a 

 log and contained five eggs which were very uniformly'raarked, 

 there being three distinct varieties of colouring. A set now 

 before the writer, taken May 27th, contains four eggs, 71 x -59, 

 •80 X '58, 72 X '60, 72 X '59. The ground colour is pale greenish- 

 blue marked with cinnamon-brown, umber and blue-gray. The 

 first, third and fourth are so heavily marked as to obscure the 

 ground colour, the second is much more finely and sparsely 

 marked, and with the third most heavily marked about the large 

 end. The nest was placed in a gully having a southern exposure, 

 and was also well concealed by thick grasses. While the writer 

 was walking across an island the bird flushed from under foot and 

 flew quietly away without making the least attempt at alluring 

 its disturber from the vicinity of the nest, nor did it return for some 

 time. The male was not seen at all. The eggs were fresh, which 

 fact probablyaccounted for the shyness of the birds. {W.H.Moore.) 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



One specimen taken at Scotch Lake, N.B., Sept. 7th, 1901, by 

 W. H. Moore. 



One set of four eggs taken at Wolfville, King's Co., N. S., 

 June 2nd, 1902, by Mr. R. W. Tufts. Nest made of grass placed 

 among grass in a salt marsh. 



CCI. CHONDESTES, Swainson. 1827. 

 552. Lark Sparrow. 



Chondestes gfammacus (Say) Bonap. 1838. 

 One seen on Sable Island N.S. on Sept. 6th, 1902, and a number 

 on Oc tobe r 1 0th . {lames Bouteillier. ) 



