538 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



ritoiy, where they arrived in March, aud remained until late in October. 

 They were usually found among the grass, from wjiich they rarely rise, 

 except to sing their faint aud lisping trill from a weed or some low bush. 

 Mr. Kidgway represents this song as corresponding with the syllables witz- 

 u'itz-inh'-tzull. This, he states, is uttered in a weak and lisping manner, as 

 the bird perches on a bush beside the brook, or on a fence, or as it nestles 

 among the grass on the ground. 



Dr. Cooper si>eaks of them as only winter vi.sitants in California, and 

 there residing only on the dry interior plains, as far south as San Diego, 

 where they remain in large flocks until April. He has never met with 

 this bird during the summer mouths, though some are supposed to remain 

 and breed in the high prairies. He did not meet with any about the sum- 

 mits of the Sierra Nevada, in September. They a])peared to prefer the dry 

 rolling prairies to marshes, though they were occasioually found in the 

 latter. 



This species is also a migratory visitant to the Department of Vera Cruz, 

 Me-xico, where they are said by Sumichrast to pass the winter. 



Their nests are built upon the ground, and are composed almost entirely 

 of the dry stems of grasses, and are lined with finer materials of the same. 

 Their eggs measure .75 of an inch in length by Ji2 in bn^adth, have a 

 greenish-white ground, over which are distributed numerous markings, spots, 

 and l)lotches of various sizes, of a light purplish-brown and a deeper red- 

 brown, confluent about the larger end, where tliey form a crown. 



Near Fort Anderson nests were found in great numbers, no less than two 

 hundred and fiuir having been obtained during four summers in that locality. 

 These nests were all taken on the ground, under low grass, in dry spots in 

 a large marshy prairie, and it is stated that they were never found in any 

 other situation or locality. 



Passerculus savanna, var sandwlchensis, B.\ird. 



NOKTHWESTEKN SAVANNA SPARROW. 



Emberiza sand/wicheiiMs, Gm. I, 1788, 875. Emierha arctica, L.vtham, IikI. Orn. I, 1790, 

 414. Fringilln arctica, Vigoks, Zool. of Blossom, 1839, 20 (perliaiK one of tlio sm.ilkr 

 species). — " Brandt, Icon. Koss. 2, 6." Euspiza arcliai,, Bp. Conspectus, 1850, 469. 

 Zoiwtrichm arcliai, FiNSCH, 1872. Emberisa chrijsops, Pai.i.as, Zoiig. Rosso-As. II, 

 1811, 4.i, tab. xlviii, fig. 1 (Unala.ska). Sandwich Hunting, Lath. Syn. II, 1783, 202. 

 Unalaska Bmdiivj, Pennant, Arctic Zoiil. II, 363, 320, No. 229 (not of p. 364, No. 

 233>. Passemdm sandwichcrutis, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 444. — Dalt, & Bannis- 

 TEii, Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1869, 284. — Coopkk, Oni. Cal. I, ISO. I'asscrcuhis savanna, 

 Dall & Bannisteu, Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1869, 283. 



Sp. Char. Almo.st e-Kactly like P. savanna, but half an inch longer, with much larger 

 bill. Length, 6.12 inches; wing, 3.00; tail, 2.55. Bill above, .50; below, .36; gape, .56; 

 depth, .27. 



Hab. Northwestern coast from the Columbia River to Russian America. 



