FRIXGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 593 



Mr. Ridgway states that the P. bilincaia is uot so abundant as the other 

 species, and is more retiring in its haljits. It principally frequents the desert 

 tracts and sandy wastes, on wliich are found only the most stunted forms of 

 sage-brush. Its song, though quite simple, is exceedingly fine, its modula- 

 tion being somewhat like wjit'-u-ut'-zc-e-c-e-e-e, the first two syllables being 

 uttered in a ricli metallic tone, while the final trill is in a lower key, and of 

 the most liquid and tremulous cliaracter imaginable. This simple chant is 

 repeated every few seconds, the singer being perched upon a bush. He adds 

 that tliis bird arrives on tlie Truckee Eeser\-ation about the 13th of May. 

 The nest is built in sage-bushes, and the eggs are found from the 7th to 

 the 21st of June. Tlie nests are usually about one foot from the ground, or 

 thereabouts. 



The eggs vary in size from .70 by .5:") of an inch to .75 by .60. They are 

 of a rounded-oval shape, and of a pure white witli a slight tinge of blue, 

 somewhat resembling the eggs of the Baclnnan Finch. 



Poospiza beUi, Scl.vter. / ** • 



BELL'S SPARROW. e?? a.i' 



Emheriza belli, Cassik, Pr. A. N. Sc. Pliila. V, Oct. 1850, 101, pi. iv (San Diego, Cal.). 

 Poospiza belli, ScLATER, Pr. Zobl. Soc. ISo?, 7. — Baikd, Birds N. Am. 1858, 470. — 

 Heerm. X, s. p. 46. Zonotrichia belli, Elliot, Illust. Birds N. Am. I, pi. xiv. — 

 Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 204. 



Sp. Char. I'pper parts generally, with sides of head and neck, uniform bluish-ash, 

 tinged with j'ellowish-gray on the crown and back, and with a few very obsolete dusky 

 streaks on the interscapular region. Beneath pure white, tinged with yellowish-brown on 

 the sides and under the tail. Eyelids, short streak from the bill to above the eye, and small 

 median spot at the base of culmen, white. A stripe on the sides of the throat and spot 

 on the upper part of the breast, with a few streaks on the sides, with the loral space and 

 region round the eyes, plumbeous-black. Tail-feathers black ; the outer edged with white. 

 Wing-feathers all broadly edged with brownish-yellow; the elbow-joint tinged with 

 yellowish-green. Bill and feet blue. Length, 5.70; wing, 2.80; tail, 2.90. (Largest 

 specimen, 6,.338 g, Cosuranes River). 



Hab. Southern California. 



The colors are softer and more blended in the autumn ; the young are 

 obsoletely streaked on the breast. 



Habits. Bell's Finch has apparently a more restricted distribution tlian 

 the Black-throated species, and is resident wherever found. It has been met 

 with at Posa Creek, Cal., by Dr. Heermann, at Fort Thorn by Dr. T. C. 

 Henry, and along the Colorado Eiver by Drs. Kennerly and MoUhausen. 

 It has likewise been found in Southern California, as far north as Sacramento 

 Valley, and in the valley of the Gila. 



Dr. Cooper states that aU the extensive thickets throughout the south- 

 ern half of California are the favorite resorts of this bird. Tliere they 

 apparently live upon small seeds and insects, indifferent as to water, or 

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