BIRDS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. 
113 
Centronyx Bairdii, Baird. — Baird’s Sparrow. 
(See Frontispiece.*) 
Emheriza Bairdii. Aud., Birds America, VII. 1843 ; PI. 500. 
Coturniculus Bairdii. Bon., Syn. 1850, 481. 
Centronyx Bairdii. Baird, 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 bill 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 : scapularies 
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 tail-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 Passer cuius 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. 
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