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Range (Interior of North America) (III)

Interior of North America, eastward to Illinois; breeds from Texas to Manitoba; accidental on the Atlantic coast (Massachusetts, Long Island, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Florida).

Washington, A. V., July, Aug., two captures.

FIG. 85. Lark Sparrow. (Natural size.) Nest, of grasses, lined with rootlets, fine grasses, and long hairs, on the ground or in low trees or bushes. Eggs, three to five, white or pinkish white, spotted, blotched, or scrawled with purplish or black, chiefly at the larger end, 78 x 60. This is an exceedingly common bird in the west. It frequents localities of much the same nature as those selected by the Grass Finch, and in its general habits and song reminds one of that species. 554. Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forst.). WHITE-CROWNED SPAR- ROW. Ad.-No yellow before the eye or on the bend of the wing; center of the crown with a white stripe bordered on either side by black stripes, all of about equal width; no white before the eye; a white line from over the eye passes backward along the side of the head; nape gray; back dark grayish brown, margined with gray; rump dark brownish ash; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white; tail fuscous; under parts grayish white on the belly, flanks and under tail-coverts cream-buff. Im. - Generally similar, but sides of the crown rufous-brown, center of the crown pale grayish brown; nape brownish ash; back margined with the same color. L., 6.88; W., 3.03; Τ., 2.88; B., 43.

Range." Breeding from higher mountain ranges of western United States, Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains, and eastward. north of the Great Lakes, to Labrador; in winter, over whole of United States, and south into Mexico" (Ridgw.).

Washington, irregularly common W. V. and T. V., Apl. 15 to May 15; Oct. 15 to Nov. 30. Sing Sing, rare T. V., May 9 to 26; Oct. 3 to 30. Cambridge, uncommon T. V., May 12 to 22; Oct. 1 to 20. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC.

Nest, of grasses, on the ground or in bushes. Eggs, four to five, pale greenish blue, speckled and spotted with bay, especially at the larger end, 90 x 62 (Davie).

This is one of the aristocrats of the family. Its size and its handsome markings at once distinguish it from its congeners, and are sure to attract attention. Though its season of love and music is spent in the far north, it often favors us with selections of its melodies as it rests in thickets and hedgerows while slowly passing through our country on its northward pilgrimage. Its usual song is like the latter half of the White-throat's familiar refrain, repeated a number of times with a peculiar sad cadence and in a clear, soft whistle that is characteristic of the group. It resembles its relatives also in singing its sweetest songs in the woods, sometimes during the darkest hours of the night.