VOL. I. ] Songs of C. alifornian Zonotrichiea. — 73 
The above songs are by far the most common; in fact, any de- 
parture from them is quite the exception. Variations of both songs 
are always sufficiently near to these types to be immediately rec- 
ognized, and generally consist of a simplification of the above. 
Thus the golden-crowned sparrow frequently omits the last note, 
and sometimes sings nothing but the first. Occasionally, also, the 
final note is not flatted, so that the last two notes are the same. I 
have not noted down any of the variations of the songs of Gam- 
bel’s sparrow, but these can always be identified from their simi- 
larity to the song given. Sometimes on a mild day during the win- 
ter or spring, when numbers of these birds are congregated in a 
garden, several variations of their usual song will be heard, the 
birds seemingly vying with one another in producing changes, but 
under other circumstances I have seldom heard any but the song 
here recorded. 
The golden-crowned sparrow sings all winter from the time of its 
first appearance in the fall until its departure in April. During the 
cold rains of winter, however, its song is generally hushed and its 
ordinary ¢szp is its only note. This is most commonly heard when 
a flock are started out of the brush. Gambel’s white-crowned spar- 
row also utters a call note indistinguishable from that of the prece- 
ding species. It has in addition a note heard only at the beginning 
of the mating season, generally in March, which is characteristic of 
this species. It consists of a low trill or rattle uttered while the 
wings are rapidly vibrated. I have never heard this note uttered 
when the female was in sight. 
The night song of Gambel’s white-crowned sparrow is of great 
interest. Late in the night, when all the world is wrapped in slum- 
ber, a wild burst of song will rise on the silent air, then subside, 
and all is again quiet. Only a single bar is sung, and I have never 
heard the strain repeated on the same night. I first heard this 
night song on February 26, 1888.. The day had been warm, but a 
thick fog came on in the evening which darkened the sky. It was 
nearly half past ten when the bird sang, and the effect of this song, 
coming through the dark, still night, was very peculiar. On March 
7 of the same year, the song was heard at eleven o'clock at 
night, and on the r2th inst. it was heard at nine o’clock. In both > 
cases the night was dark and foggy. If these night songs were 
uttered only on clear, moonlight nights they could be more easily 
