DIFFERENTIAL POINTS : 
See Table. 
REMARKS : 
Fig. 7, Plate LXVIII, represents three eggs of the Savannah Sparrow, of the common sizes, shapes, 
and markings. They were selected from eggs furnished by Mr. Jenks, of Providence, Pi,. I. 
Mr. Maynard has written so pleasantly of the southern home of this species, that I take pleasure 
in quoting him. He says: “The Savannahs of Florida are wide spread plains, either fresh or salt. 
The former are covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, often six feet high, while on the latter the 
herbage is' shorter, and consists of several species of plants, among which is the peculiar sea purslane 
(sesurium portulacastrum). This creeping herb quite covers the ground in many localities, and the red, 
succulent leaves yield a peculiar spicy scent when crushed beneath the feet. This aromatic odor always 
reminds me of the marshes of Indian River, for it was there that I first saw the plant growing to 
perfection. Those salt plains are the resorts of many birds, but none are more abundant there than the 
little Sparrows which I have under consideration, and which derive their common and specific names 
from their habit of frequenting savannahs. Many other species of the family are arboreal, but none 
among them are so fond of open, grassy sections as the Savannah Sparrows. In Florida, they are abun- 
dant in the marshy country along the sea board, or rivers of the interior, and are common on the 
plantations of Georgia and the Carol inas. In Pennsylvania, they are found in the rich interval lands; 
in Massachusetts and Maine they swarm along the sand hills and marshes of the coast, and I have even 
found them on the grassy hillsides of the Magdalen Islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence. They are retiring in 
habits, often running a long distance before Hying. The males, however, ai'e fond of perching on a low 
limb of a tree or fence top, to give their peculiar lay, which consists of a few lisping notes terminating 
in a faint warble ; the whole performance being rather an unsatisfactory apology for a song. 
“ The nests are built on the ground in open fields, along the edges of the sand hills, or on the 
marshes. There is very little attempt at concealment, but as the females sit closely it is exceedingly 
difficult to flush them, and when forced to leave they will frequently run some distance before rising, often 
feigning lameness in order to attract attention from the nests. The eggs are deposited about the first of 
June, and a second litter in July. They breed a little later on the Magdalen Islands, where I should 
judge that they only rear one brood. They leave Florida early in March, arriving in New England 
about the middle of April, and remain until the first of November.” 
302 
