344 BIRDS-—-F RINGILLIDZ. 
the erown. Bend of wing, middle and greater coverts, fulvous. Under paris delicate 
fawn-color, deepest upon the breast. No markings beneath, excepting a faintly indi- 
sated line of dusky spots upen the sides of the breast. From a specimen in my cabinet 
collected at Columbus, Ohio, by Dr. J. M. Wheaton. This bird is very young, seareely 
large enough to fly.” (Brewster, }. ¢., 187%.) 
Habitat, Eastern United States; west to Kansas, Nebraska, and Celorado: north to 
Massachusetts ; south to Mexico, Central America, and New Grenada. 
Abundant summer resident from May to September, in Middle and 
Southern, less common in Northern Ohio. Frequents clover and grain 
fields. Probably has greatly iacreased in numbers with the increase of 
cultivation. Audubon states that it is rare in Ohio and Kentucky, and 
Dr. Kirtland says that he admits it to his list on imsufficient authority. 
Mr. Read omits it. It is now the characteristic summer bird of fields 
throughout Middle and Southern Ohio. 
No one of our Sparrows is more variable in plumage. Although the 
above description is correct for a iarge proportion of birds, yet many 
specimens are found which differ from it in several particulars. I am of 
the opinion that it is several years before they attain their highest plum- 
age, and that the sexes can not be distinguished by theircolor alone. The 
size also varies considerably, and the males are not always larger than 
the females. Very highly colored males have the head decidedly glossed 
with yellow, and the breast decided, though not definite, rich yellow, 
prolonged as a broad median line to the lower belly. Some males, appar- 
ently adult, have the black throat-patch, instead of broad and shield- 
shaped, reduced toa smal! indefinite spot; in others the black of throat is 
entirely wanting, but the maxillary streaks are present, with or without 
pectoral streaks. Males without black on the threat show no lack of 
chestnut on the wing or yellow on the breast. In fact the chestnut on 
the wing sometimes appear in an inverse ratio to the black on the 
throat, but some males, in spring, have the chestnut reduced to a mere 
trace. 3 
The same variations are seen in the females, some of whom have a 
small black spot on the breast, and more rarely a large definite shield, © 
but these latter appear to be very old birds. Some without black on the 
throat are quite yellow below; some have wel! defined chestnut on the 
wings, while in others it is entirely wanting. In fact, no description 
ean be framed which would accord with every variation, or separate the 
sexes. | 
The Black-throated Bunting, or Little Pield Lark, as it is commonly 
ealled, to distinguish it from the Meadow Lark, usually arrives in the 
vicinity of Columbus during the first week in May. Sometimes a few 
