58 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



In this restricted distribution the present bird is a companion of the 

 Melospiza melodia, var. heermanni, and the characteristics of form are the 

 same in both as com])ared with their Middle Province and Northern repre- 

 sentatives ; while they both difler from the latter {tovm-sendi of Passerella, and 

 rvfina of Melospiza) in purer, lighter, and less brown colors. 



Habits. Dr. Cooper met with several individuals of this bird towards the 

 summits of the Sierra Nevada, in September, 1863, but was unable to preserve 

 any of them. So far as he was able to observe them, they had no song, and 

 their habits were generally similar to those of the P. ioicnsendi. 



The Thick-billed Sparrow was found by Mr. Ridgway as a very common 

 bird among the alder swamps in the ravines of the eastern slope of the Sien-a 

 Nevada during the summer. Near Carson City, April 25, in a swampy 

 thicket near the streams in the level slopes, he heard, for the first time, its 

 beautiful song, and killed a specimen in the midst of its utterance of what, 

 he adds, was one of the most exquisitely rich utterances he ever heard. 

 This song, he states, resembles, in richness and volume, that of the Louisi- 

 ana Water Thrush (Seiurus ludovicianus), qualities in which that bird is 

 hardly equalled by any other North American bird. They were singing 

 in all parts of that swamjiy thicket, and up the ravines as far as the snow. 

 From the nature of the place and the character of their song, they were 

 at first supposed to be the Water Thrush, until specimens of these ex- 

 quisite songsters were secured. He regards this bird as second to none of 

 our singers belonging to this family, and though in variety, sprightliness, 

 and continuity, and also in passionate emotional character, its song is not 

 equal to that of the Chondestes (jrammaca, yet it is far superior in power and 

 richness of tone. Mr. Eidgway regards this bird as easily distinguishable 

 from the P. schistacea, of which, however, it is only a variety. There is a 

 total discrepancy in its notes, and while neither species is resident in the 

 latitude of Carson City, through which both kinds pass in their migrations, 

 the P. schistacea lingers in the spring only a short time, soon passing to the 

 northward, while the P. megarhyncKus arrives later and remains through the 

 summer. The former makes its temporary abode among the willows along 

 the river, while the latter breeds in the shrubbeiy of the mountain ravines. 



Subfamily SPIZIN^. 



Char. Bill variable, always large, much arched, and with the culmen considerably 

 curved ; sometimes of enormous size, and with a greater development backward of the 

 lower jaw, which is always appreciably, sometimes considerably, broader behind than the 

 upper jaw at its ba.se ; nostrils exposed. Tail rather variable. Bill generally black, light 

 blue, or red. Wings .shorter than in the first group. Gape almost always nuieh more 

 strongly bristled. Few of the species sparrow-like or plain in their appearance : usually 

 blue, red, or black and white; except in one or two instaiic-<>>! the si'ves very different in 

 color. 



