494 
GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 
SAVANNA FINCH, or YELLOW-SHOULDERED 
SPARROW. 
f ( Fringilla savanarum , Gmel. Latham, i. p. 443. No. 31. and Sy- 
nopsis, iii. p. 270. No. 27. F. passerina , Wilson, iii. p. 76. pi. 24, 
fig. 5. Phil. Museum, No. 6583.) 
Sp. Charact. — Breast pale brownish-yellow; line over the eye, 
shoulder, and lesser wing-coverts yellow ; tail-feathers rather 
pointed, the outer partly whitish. 
This small Sparrow is a summer resident in the United 
States, and is likewise, according to Sloane, a common 
species in the savannas or open glades of the island of 
Jamaica. From what little is known of it, as a bird of 
the United States, it appears to remain on the sheltered 
plains of the sea-coast of New York and New Jersey un- 
til the very commencement of winter. It is also observ- 
ed in the lower parts of Pennsylvania, and about the mid- 
dle of May or later, they are occasionally seen in the 
gardens of this vicinity, on their way apparently to some 
other breeding station. On these occasions they perch 
in sheltered trees in pairs, and sing in an agreeable voice 
somewhat like that of the Purple Finch, though less vig- 
orously. In the West Indies, they live much on the ground, 
and run like Larks, flying low when flushed, and soon 
alighting. Their nest is likewise fixed on the ground, 
among the grass, where they collect their usual fare of 
seeds and insects. It is made of loose, dry stalks of dead 
grass, and lined with hair and root-fibres. The eggs, 
5, are of a greyish-white, spotted with brown, and the fe- 
male has been observed sitting as late as the 1st of Au- 
gust. They probably retire to the West Indies or Mexi- 
co to pass the winter, as they are not seen at this season 
in any of the Southern States. 
The length of this species is from 4J to 5 inches, alar extent about 
8. Upper part of the head blackish, divided by a slight pale line; 
