.594 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



depending upon what they obtain iVom dews or fogs. They reside all the 

 year in the same localities, and were also luunerous on tlie island of San 

 Nicolas, eighty miles from the mainland. In sjoring the males utter, as Dr. 

 Cooper says, a low monotonous ditty, from the top of some favoiite shrub, 

 answering each other from long distances. Their nest he found about three 

 feet from the ground, composed of grasses and slender weeds, lined with 

 hair and other substances. The eggs, four in number, lie describes as pale 

 greenish, thickly sprinkled over with reddish-brown dots. At San Diego he 

 found the young hatclied out by May 18, but thinks they are sometimes 

 earlier. It is also a common bird in the chaparral of Santa Clara Valley, 

 and also, according to Dr. Heermann, along the Cosumnes Eiver. 



In Arizona, according to Dr. Coues, it is rather tincoumion about Fort 

 Whipple, owing to the unsuitable nature of the locality, but is abundant 

 auu)ng the sage-brush of the Gila Valley, where it kec]is much on the 

 gi-ound, and where its movements are very much like those of a Pipi/o. 



Drs. Kennerly and jVIolUiausen met with these Sparrows on tlie Little 

 Coh)ra(lo lUver, in California, December 15. They were found during that 

 month along the banks of the river wherever the weeds and bu.shes were 

 thick. It was never observed very far from the water, and its food, at that 

 season, seemed to consist of the seeds of various kinds of weeds. Its 

 motions were quick, and, when started up, its flight was short, rapid, and 

 near the earth. 



Dr. Heermann states that in tlie fall of 1851 he found this species in tlie 

 mountains bordering the Cosumnes River, and after\vards on the broad tract 

 of arid land between Kerr Eiver and the Tejon Pass, and again on the desert 

 between that and tlie Mohave Eiver. He often found them wandering to a 

 great distance from water. With only a few exceptions, these were the only 

 birds inhabiting the desolate plains, where the artemisia is tiie almost exclu- 

 sive vegetation. When undisturbed, it chants merrily i'rom some liilsh-top, 

 but, at the approach of danger, drops at once to the ground and disappears 

 in the shrubliery or weeds. Its nest he found built in a busli, composed of 

 twigs and grasses, and lined witli hair. The eggs, four in number, he 

 describes as of a liglit greenish-blue, marked with reddish-purple spots, dif- 

 fering in intensity of shade. 



Poospiza belli, \nr. nevadensis, Eidoway. 



AKTEMISIA SPAKROW. 

 Poospiza belli, var. nevadensis, Riucnv.w, Report on Birds of 40th Parallel. 



Sp. Char. Resembling P. belli, but purer n.'shy above, with the dorsal streaks very 

 distinct, instead of almost obsolete. Wing, 3.20 (instead of 2..')0) ; tail, .3.20 (instead of 

 2.50); bill (from forehead), ..35 ; tarsus, .76. (Type, No. 53,510 g. Western Humboldt 

 Mountains, Nev., United States Geol. Expl. 40th Pai.) 



