_Emberiza bairdi_, AUD. Birds Am. VII, 1843, 359, pl. d.,
_Coturniculus bairdi_, BON. Syn. 1850, 481. _Centronyx bairdi_,
BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 441.
[Line drawing: _Centronyx bairdi, Baird._
1885]
SP. CHAR. Somewhat similar in general appearance to _Passerculus
savanna_. Back grayish, streaked with dusky. Crown nearly covered by
black streaks, but divided by a broad median band of brownish-yellow.
Eyelids and a faint superciliary stripe yellowish-white. Beneath
white, with a maxillary blackish stripe and some narrow streaks on the
upper part of the breast, and sides of the throat and body. Outer
edges and tips of tail-feathers white; the two outer feathers
obsoletely white. Bend of wing white. Length, 4.75; wing, 2.80; tail,
2.20.
HAB. Mouth of the Yellowstone River. One specimen only known.
This species has somewhat of the general appearance of _Passerculus
savanna_, but with important differences both of form and color. The
bill is much longer, and more slender in proportion. The wings are
quite unusually long; the primaries more than half an inch longer than
the tertiaries; the first quill as long as the fourth, and but little
less than the second and third. The tail is very short; the feathers
narrow and pointed. The feet are large; the hind claw very long and
considerably curved, as are the other claws generally.
[Illustration: _Centronyx bairdi._]
The species was based by Mr. Audubon on a skin brought by him from the
mouth of the Yellowstone River, in 1843, in rather defective and worn
plumage. This has hitherto served as the basis of all the descriptions
of the species which is justly considered one of the rarest in the
North American fauna.
HABITS. In regard to the habits, distribution, or general history of
this very rare species, but little is known, only one specimen having
been met with. This was procured by Mr. Audubon’s party to the
Yellowstone River, in Dakota, on the last day of July, 1843. That it
is a resident where obtained, certainly during the breeding-season, is
a natural inference from the circumstances of its capture. That it may
be a common bird in certain other portions of the region, immediately
north of Dakota, is quite probable. Its close habits, as described by
Mr. Audubon, favor its escaping notice wherever it may exist.
The specimen was met with in a wet place, overgrown closely by a kind
of slender rush-like grass, from the midst of which the notes of these
birds were heard, and at first mistaken for those of the Marsh Wren. A
search was immediately instituted for the singers, which Mr. Bell soon
ascertained could not be the Wren in question, the notes being much
softer and more prolonged. Much difficulty was encountered in the
endeavor to raise them from the long close grass to which they closely
confined themselves, and they were several times nearly trodden on
before they would take wing, almost instantaneously realighting within
a few steps, and running like mice through the grass. After a while
two were shot while on the wing, and proved to be adult male and
female. The party found this species quite abundant in all such
situations, and there seems to have been no doubt that it was
breeding.