FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC 
395 
eye and through the center of the crown ; a black streak on the sides of the 
throat; upperparts brownish ash; back streaked with blackish; tail fuscous 
or black, the outer feathers tipped with white; underparts white, a small 
black spot in the middle of the breast. L., 6’25; W., 3’50; T., 2*75; B., *45. 
Range. — Miss. Valley e. of the Great Plains. Breeds mainly in Austral 
zones from e. Nebr., nw. Minn., cen. Wise., and s. Ont. s. to s. La. and cen. 
Ala. and e. to w. Pa., w. Md., and nw. W. Va. ; casual in N. $., N. Y., Mass., 
N. J., D. C., N. C., and Fla.; winter home unknown, except in s. Miss. 
Washington, A. V., Aug., two captures. N. Ohio, rare S. R., Apl. 28. 
Glen Ellyn, local and uncommon S. R. SE. Minn., common S. R., Apl. 20- 
Aug. 2. 
Nest, of grasses, lined with rootlets, fine grasses, and long hairs, on the 
ground or in low trees or bushes. Eggs, 3-5, white or pinkish white, spotted, 
blotched, or scrawled with purplish or black, chiefly at the larger end, 
'78 x '60. Date, se. Minn., May 17. 
This is a common bird in the West. It frequents localities of much 
the same nature as those selected by the Grass Finch, and in its general 
habits reminds one of that species. The song is described by Ridgway 
(“Birds of Ills.,” I, p. 262) as “composed of a series of chants, each syllable 
rich, loud, and clear, interspersed with 
emotional trills. At the beginning the 
song reminds one somewhat of that of 
the Indigo Bird ( Passerina cyanea ), but 
the notes are louder and more metallic, 
and their delivery more vigorous. 
Though seemingly hurried, it is one 
continued gush of sprightly music ; 
now gay, now melodious, and then 
tender beyond description — the very 
expression of emotion. At intervals 
the singer falters, as if exhausted by 
exertion, and his voice becomes scarcely audible; but suddenly reviv- 
ing in his joy it is resumed in all its vigor until he appears to be really 
overcome by the effort.” 
553. Zonotrichia querula (Nutt.). Harris’s Sparrow. Bill pinkish; 
crown and throat or breast more or less black. Ads. — Crown, throat, breast 
and lores glossy black, cheeks gray; above brownish gray streaked with 
black; rump brownish ashy, tail fuscous-gray; two white wing-bars; belly 
white, sides with blackish streaks. Im. — Similar, but crown tipped with 
brownish; breast, and sometimes throat, with black streaks or blotches; 
cheeks, flanks and under tail-coverts buffy. L., 7*50; W., 3‘50; T., 3*25; 
B., '50. 
Range. — Cen. N. A. Breeds in Hudsonian zone at Ft. Churchill, 
Hudson Bay, Artillery Lake, Mackenzie, and probably to Great Bear Lake 
and the district just s. of the Barren Grounds; in migration ranges e. to w. 
Ont. and e. Ills., and w. to cen. Mont, and e. Colo.; winters from n. Kans. 
and w. Mo. s. to s. Tex.; casual in B. C.; accidental in Calif., Ore., Wash., 
and Ohio. Glen Ellyn, one record, May 19, 1897. SE. Minn., common T. V., 
May 6-?; Sept. 21-Oct. 25. 
Nest (found Aug. 5, 1907, by E. T. Seton, at Last Wood, Great Slave 
Lake, and the only one known), “was on the ground under a dwarf birch, was 
made of grass and resembled the nest of a White-throated Sparrow. It con- 
tained three young nearly ready to fly” (Auk, 1908, 72). 
Fig. 106. Lark Sparrow. 
(Natural size.) 
