LARK SPARROW. 
LARK FINCH. 
Chondestes GRAMMACUS. 
Char. Above, grayish olive ; the back brown, with fine stre.aks of 
black; t.ail black, — excepting central feathers, — tipped with white, outer 
web of outer pair entirely white ; crown chestnut, with median line of 
dull white; line over the eye dull white; white crescent under the eyes 
bordered by black, and behind by chestnut; below white tinged with 
brown ; breast with patch of black. Length 6 % to 7 inches. 
JVest. Usually amid a tuft of grass, but sometimes in a tree or bush ; 
composed of grass and vegetable fibre. 
E.^gs- 3-5 (usually 4) ; white or with blue or buff tint, marked with 
spots and lines of dark brown or black ; 0.85 X 0.65. 
For this species we are again indebted to Mr. Say, who ob- 
served it in abundance near the Council Bluffs and the neigh- 
boring country of the Missouri in the spring, as well as in the 
month of June. It appears to be wholly confined to the west 
side of the Mississippi, and probably extends into Mexico. 
These birds frequent the prairie grounds, and seldom if ever 
alight on trees ; they sing sweetly, and, like the Larks, have 
the habit of continuing their notes while on the wing. 
Mr. Townsend observes : “ This species inhabits several hun- 
dred miles of the Platte plains in great numbers, as well as the 
banks of the Columbia River. It generally affects the low 
bushes of wormwood {Artemisia) , itom the summit of which 
I 
t 
