378 
FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
similar to adult female, but more buffy, feathers of lower parts bordered 
with buffy white, streaks on lower parts narrower. Male: length (skins) 
6.10-7.25, wing 3.35-3.62, tail 2.58-2.80, bill .52-.58. Female: length 
(skins) 5.70-6.50, wing 3.22-3.35, tail 2.38-2.70, bill .50-.52. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Upper Sonoran and Transition zones of the 
high plains from Assiniboia south to Colorado and Kansas; migrates 
through New Mexico, Arizona, and southern and Lower California to 
plateau of Mexico; occasional west of Rocky Mountains, and accidental 
in Atlantic states in migration. 
Nest. — Sunk in ground, sometimes under a bunch of weeds, made of 
grass and fine roots. Eggs: 4 or 5, plain pale blue. 
The striking black and white of the lark bunting probably ac¬ 
counts for its shyness. While in southern Texas we could almost 
drive alongside of a flock of dull-colored dickcissels sitting on the 
roadside fence, but a flock of the northbound whitewings would fly 
in instant alarm on our approach. They fed on the ground among 
the prairie flowers, but it was hard to get near enough to observe 
their habits, for at the least unguarded motion or footfall they 
would arise simultaneously and dash into the brush. When not 
disturbed they scattered through the chaparral, and, as a man aptly 
observed, were always sitting around as if they had nothing to do. 
A flock of forty or fifty in April showed great variety of plumage, 
for many of the males were only in process of donning their black 
summer plumage. The young males showed the white on their 
wings when sitting and on their tails in flight, but the dull gray 
females showed the white wing patch only when flying. 
On the prairies, where there were neither bushes nor fences to 
perch on, the buntings, and doves also, sat on the oval slabs of the 
tuni cactus, and it was amusing to see the whitewings sidle gingerly 
along the spiny edges. 
The buntings sang in chorus, and sometimes we would catch a 
delightful wave of song from them as we drove along. On their 
breeding grounds they are said to have a * rich and varied flight 
song.’ 
Having met the birds on their way north in Texas one year, 
the following year we were overtaken by them in New Mexico on 
their way south. During the last of July the flocks were mixed 
black and brown, but from the last of August they were mainly 
brown. In the Guadalupe Mountains bands passed our camp every 
day, with their soft lioo-ee , a peculiarly sweet note given with a 
cheery, rising inflection. 
