The Vesper Sparrows 



EGGS OF THE WESTERN LARK SPARROW 



A SELECTED SERIES SHOWING VARIATION: FROM THE M. C. O. COLLECTIONS 



No. 40 



Vesper Sparrow 



No. 40a Western Vesper Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 540a. Pooecetes gramineus confinis Baird. 



Synonyms. — Western Grass Finch. Bay-winged Bunting. 



Description. — Adults: General tone of upperparts grayish brown or buffy 

 brown on the edges of the feathers, modified by the dusky centers, and warmed by 

 delicate traces of rufous; bend of wing bay (between tawny and sayal brown), con- 

 cealing dusky centers; wings and tail fuscous with pale tawny or whitish edgings, — 

 outermost pair of tail-feathers principally white, the white crossing to inner web about 

 midway of shaft, and involving terminal portion broadly; below sordid white, sharply- 

 streaked on breast, flanks, and sides with dusky brown; the chin and throat with small 

 arrow marks of the same color and bounded by chains of streaks; auriculars clear 

 hair-brown, with buffy or lighter center; usually a buffy suffusion on streaked area 



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