LONGSPUR. The long,spurs are gregarious. terrestrial !Indies, having exposed nostrils and the hind un usually long and near ly straight, like a spur. Four of these finehes occur in the United States, of which three are en demic, while one is circumpolar. This last is the Lapland longspur (Calearius Lapponieus) and breeds only in the highest latitudes; in winter it ranges southward, in America as far as Penn sylvania. Ohio, and Colorado, but is uncommon in the Eastern United States even in severe As usually seen in winter. the upper parts are mixed black, rufous. and buff, the nape yellowish buff, the under parts white, the breast and sides streaked with blackish and yellowish buff. hi the fully plumaged male the head, neck. an 1 breast are black.
The three distinctively Ameriean longspurs are easily distinguished from the Lapland longspur and from ea eh other. when in adult summer plu mage, but in immature and winter plumage they bear considerable resemblance to each other. The painted longspur u (61earins lartus) in the valleys of the Yukon. Mackenzie. and Saskat chewan rivers, but in winter ranges south and east as far as Illinois. The eliestnut-collared
longspur (Calearins ornatusi the hest known of the American species. as it breeds in great numbers on the prairie, of Dakota and Its nest is a scanty collection of grass and weed stalks in a hollow on the ground. and the egg-. usually four, are white with purplish and hr NN markings. None of the longspurs are really singers. the notes. though being W. ak and twittering. The last of our four species, sometimes called black-breasted long,pur Phu i ehophancs Mcrouniii, from the pre. .ding trio in the much stouter hill and the sl oiler and more curved hind elaw.' It is quite different also in appearance when in breeding. phut age. but its habits. nest, eggs, and song are not essentially different. It occurs during the summer from Colorado northward to the valley of the cliewan. but does not pass west of the Boeky Mountains nor east of the :Mississippi River: in winter it from Colorado southward into .lexico. Consult American ornithologies, and especially Cones. Birds of the ington, 1874).