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BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
and other plants. During the summer they feed to a considerable ex¬ 
tent on beetles, flies, spiders, earth-worms and various larvae; they like¬ 
wise eat strawberries, mulberries, blackberries, and, according to Mr. 
Gentry, the fruit of the wild choke-cherry. The buds of apple, beech 
and maple trees are also occasionally fed upon. 
Genus AMMODRAMUS Swainson. 
Ammodramus sandwichensis savanna (Wils.). 
Savanna Sparrow. 
Description. 
“ Feathers of the upper parts generally with a central streak of blackish-brown ; 
the streaks of the back with a slight rufous suffusion laterally ; the feathers edged 
with gray, which is lightest on the scapulars ; crown with a broad median stripe of 
yellowish-gray ; a superciliary streak from the bill to the back of the head, eyelids, 
and edge of the wing yellow ; a j’-ellowish-white maxillary stripe curving behind 
the ear-coverts, and margined above and below by brown ; the lower margin is a 
series of thickly crowded spots on the sides of the throat, which are also found on the 
sides of the neck, across the upper part of the breast, and on the sides of the body ; a 
few spots on the throat and chin ; rest of under parts white ; tarsus flesh color; feet 
brown ; iris dark brown. Length about 5.25 inches ; extent about 8.75.”— B. B. of 
N. A. 
Habitat. —Eastern province of North America, breeding from the northern United 
States to Labrador and Hudson’s Bay territory. 
The Savanna Sparrow is a moderately abundant spring and fall mi¬ 
grant in eastern Pennsylvania. During mild winters it is not unusual 
to find this species in the southern portions of this state; ordinarily, 
however, these birds arrive in Pennsylvania about April 1, and, in pairs 
or parties of five or six, may be found frequenting chiefly low damp 
ground in open fields (along fences), meadows and the borders of grassy 
ponds and pools. I have never observed this sparrow, in the spring, 
later than April 25. Dr. John W. Detwiller, of Bethlehem, has found 
the Savanna Sparrow nesting in Pennsylvania; Mr. Sennett also informs 
me that it breeds sparingly in Crawford and Erie comities, and Dr. Yan 
Fleet has observed it as a rare native in Clinton county. Never having 
been fortunate enough to find the nest or eggs of this bird, I quote the 
following concerning them from Dr. Coues’ Key: “ Nest sunken in ground 
flush with surface, of a few grasses and weed-stalks; eggs, four to six, .70 
by .50, varying interminably in their motley coloring; usually heavily 
clouded and blotched with dark brown ; most like those of Pooccetes, but 
smaller.” This bird is seldom seen to perch on trees or bushes, some¬ 
times, though not often, he may be observed to alight on the lowermost 
rails of fences; but, occasionally, usually when frightened, I have ob¬ 
served them fly into trees and crouch close to the limbs as if endeavor¬ 
ing to hide. When passing southward the Savanna Sparrows make their 
appearance in this locality about the middle of September. Their food 
