THE BIRD BOOK 
5 4*4. Large-billed Sparrow. Passerculus rostratus 
rostratus. 
Range. — Coast of southern and Lower California. 
Similar to the Savannah Sparrow but paler and grayer, 
without yellow lores and a larger and stouter bill. They 
are common in salt marshes, often in company with the 
last species and their nesting habits are similar to and 
the eggs not distinguished with certainty from those of 
the latter. 
544a. San Lucas Sparrow. Passerculus rostratus 
guttatus. 
Range.— Southern Lower California. 
A slightly darker form of the preceding, having identical 
habits, and probably, eggs. 
/544c. San Benito Sparrow. Passerculus rostratus 
sanctorum. 
Range.- — Breeds on San Benito Islands; winters in south- 
ern Lower California. 
The nesting habits and eggs of these very similar sub- 
species are identical. 
545. Baird’s Sparrow. Ammodramus bairdi 
Range. — Plains, breeding from northern United States to 
the Saskatchewan; south in winter to the Mexican border. 
These Sparrows breed abundantly on the plains of Dakota 
and northward, placing their nest in hollows on the ground in 
fields and along road sides. During June or July, they lay 
three to five dull whitish eggs, blotched, splashed and spotted 
with light shades of brown and gray. Size .80 x .60. 
White 
546. Grasshopper Sparrow 
Ammodramus savannarum australis. 
Range. — United States east of the Plains, 
breeding from the Gulf to Canada. 
A stoutly built Sparrow marked on the upper 
parts peculiarly, like a quail; nape grayish 
and chestnut. These birds 
are common in dry fields and 
pastures, where their scarce- 
ly audible, grasshopper-like 
song is heard during the heat 
of the day. Their nests are 
sunken in the ground and 
arched over so that they are very difficult to 
find, especially as the bird will not flush until 
nearly trod upon. The four or five eggs, laid in 
June, are white, specked with reddish brown. 
Size .72 x .55. 
Ammodramus savannarum bimaculatus 
546a. Western Grasshopper Sparrow. 
Range. — West of the Plains from British 
Columbia to Mexico. 
Slightly paler than the last; has the same 
nesting habits; eggs indistinguishable. 
Baird’s Sparrow 
Grasshopper Sparrow 
338 
