24 
Leelationshtp of Sparrows. 
[ ZOE 
T do not remember of hearing their song at all. 
_ They certainly have an aversion to the haunts of man, as I have 
never seen either form around civilization or cultivated fields. 
Out of nine specimens collected by me but two are females. 
It should be borne in mind that the differences between Riverside 
“specimens of the two forms is based on fall and winter birds only. 
I have observed the following general differences between the 
two forms: 
AMPHISPIZA BELLI. 
Little or no traces of dorsal 
streaks. 
Above, hair brown, darker on 
head; mandibles slate black. 
Outer web of outer retrix same 
as inner web, or but little lighter. 
Outer edging of primaries 
light brownish. 
Edging of secondaries and 
tertials dull light cinnamon. 
Flanks washed with light cin- 
namon, streaked with dusky. 
Stripes on side of throat al- 
ways well defined and constant. 
Pectoral spot always distinct. 
| AMPHISPIZA BELLI NEVADENSIS. 
Dorsal streaks always present, 
generally well defined. 
Top of head, general color of 
- black, and often under mandible 
much lighter, 
Outer web of outer retrix 
whitish, sometimes broadly tip- 
ped with white. 
Outer edging of primaries 
plainer and whitish. 
Edging of secondaries and — 
tertials much lighter. 
Flanks lighter, less streaked. 
Stripes on side of throat not — 
well defined, often only obscure 
traces present. | 
Pectoral spot more diffused, 
sometimes nearly lacking. 
_Scarcely any of the specimens carry all of the above distinctions _ 
entirely, but usually vary in regard to some one particular; so that _ 
while none of the differences between the two forms seem altogether 
constant, not one of my birds, nor indeed of any others I have ex- _ 
amined, appear to lean towards the other variety very decidedly, 
nor is there any hesitation of instantly assigning any specimen to — 
its proper form. Moreover, the subjoined table of measurements 
show that in size they are also quite constant. On account of the _ 
lack of females I cannot actually give their differences in size, but — 
have merely inserted their measurements with the males; all of” 
them were collected by myself at Riverside, Cal. — ais 
