86 GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. 



Frankeaia. It was composed of surf-worn eel-grass mostly, lined with a few feathers. 

 My friend, Mr. B. T. Gault, found this Finch in large numbers in the salt marshes near 

 National City, in the spring of 1883. A nest containing three fresh eggs was found 

 May 24; it was situated in a patch of marsh weed, apparently raised a little above 

 the ground — several feet above tide-water mark, and was completely saturated with 

 water; notwithstanding the dampness of thfe nest the eggs were warm to the touch, 

 as the female just had left the nest. The structure was composed almost exclusively of 

 w^eed stalks, w^ith a little grass and a few feathers, arranged in a careless manner. The 

 ground-color of the eggs is dirty white, of a brownish tinge, caused by minute specks 

 of brown and lavender, and the blotches of amber-brown, congregating especially on 

 the larger end, with an occasional streak of a darker brown shade. Size about .77 X .58. 



DESCRIPTION: In color this bird is similar to Bryant's Sparrow, but the upper parts are more heavily 

 streaked with black on a much more uniform and more olivaceous brown ground. 



The Ipswich Sparrow, Ammodramus princeps Ridgw., was discovered December 4, 

 1868, by Mr. J. C. Maynard, among the Ipswich Sand-hills, Mass. This is a rare bird, 

 breeding on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, and wintering south to Virginia and the coast 

 of Texas. The eggs are similar to those of the Savanna Sparrow, and the nest is also 

 placed on the ground. 



The Long-billed Sparrow, A. rostratus Cass., inhabits the coast of southern and 

 Lower California, and Sonora. It winters south to Cape St. Lucas and Guaymas. 



St. Lucas Sparrow, A. rostratus guttatas Ridgw. This variety occurs in the 

 vicinity of Cape St. Lucas. 



GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, 



Ammodramus savannarum passerinus Ridgway. 



Plate XXIII. Fig. 6. 



IJ^HE Grasshopper Sparrow, or Yellow-winged Bunting, is a common summer-bird 

 from the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains, and 

 from Massachusetts and central Wisconsin to South Carolina and Arkansas, and prob- 

 ably to Florida and Texas. Although abundant where it occurs, it is one of our least 

 known birds, being frequently confounded with other similar species of like habits. It 

 is also a bird of very irregular and unequal distribution, being found in certain localities 

 in great abundance, and not at all in the intervening districts. I have met with this 

 Sparrow in many places in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri during the breeding season, 

 especially in cultivated districts. In Wisconsin it takes up its haunts in rather sandy 

 and weedy places and in grassy pastures. From its living among the grass it is usually 

 known as the "Grass-bird," "Grass Sparrow," or "Ground Sparrow," and, according to 

 Prof R. Ridgway, it is known in southern Illinois and in other rural districts as the 

 "Grasshopper-bird," or "Grasshopper Sparrow," this appelation being derived from its 



