YELLOW-WINGED SPARROW. 327 
The Grass Finch builds its nest on the ground, usually in an exposed 
place, eften under a thistle; it is composed of bits of weed-stalks and 
grass, with a little horsc-hair for a lining. The eggs are usually four, | 
grayish-white) spotted with reddish-brown, and more or less blotched 
and lined with dark brown. Their average measurement is .80 by .55. 
Gznus COTURNICULUS. Sonaparte. 
Bill short, targid, under mandible broader but lower than upper. Wings short, 
rounded, reaching te base of tail; the tertials almost as long as primaries; not muck 
difference in length of primaries. Tail short and narrow, decidedly shorter than wing, 
graduated laterally, bat slightly emarginate. 
CoefuURNICULUS PASSERINUS (Wils.) Bp. 
YW ellow=-winged Sparrow. 
Fringilla passerina, KIRTLAND, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1833, 164. 
Coturnéculus passermus, WHEATON, Qhio Agric. Rep. for 1860, 366; Reprint, 1861, 8; Food 
of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 566; Reprint, 1875, 6.—LANGDON, Cat. Birds 
of Cin., 1877, 8; Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1878, 114; Reprint, 5; Revised List, 
Journ. Cin. Soe. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 175; Reprint, 9. 
Hriagitla paseerina, WILSON, Am. Orn., iu, 1811, 76. 
- Coturniculus passerinus, BONAPARTE, List, 1838, 32. 
Edge of wing conspicueusly yellow; lesser wing coverts and short line over the eye 
yellowish; below, net or not evidently streaked, but fore parts and sides buff, fading to 
dull white on the belly. Above, singularly variegated with black, gray, yellowish- 
brown, and a peculiar purplish bay in short streaks and specks, the crown being nearly 
black, with a sharp median brownish-yellow line, the middle of the back chiefly black, 
with bay and brewnish-yellow edgings of the feathers, the cervical region and rump 
chiefly gray, mixed with bay; wing-coverts and inner quills variegated like the back 5 
feet pale. Young similar, not so buffy below, and with pectoral and maxillary dusky 
spots. Length, 44-52; wing, 24; tail, 2 or less, the cutstretched feet reaching to or 
beyond its end. 
Habitat, United States; south to Guatemala and Costa Rica. Cuba. Jamaica. Porte 
Rice. 
Common summer resident from April to August. Breeds. Dr. Kirt- 
land inserts it in his catalogue without comment. Mr. Langdon gives 
it as a rare summer resident, on the authority of Mr. Dury. In the 
vicinity of Columbus it is very common in meadows, clever and grass 
fields. in its habits it is shy and retiring, usually not observed until it 
is flushed, when it darts off rapidly, in a zig-zag fight, as if much 
alarmed, then pursues a short course, which deviates by angles rather 
then curves, and having reached a safe distance, drops quickly to the 
ground. Fields with a few stumps are favorite lecalities, and the male 
