Sparrow WESTERN BIRDS 



are able to tell him from others of his tribe that fre- 

 quent similar locations, you may consider yourself an 

 ornithologist. 



GENUS PASSEECULUS : MAESH SPAE- 

 EOWS. 



FAMILY— FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



I AM indeed sorry to have to record that in the west 

 there are several other Sparrows that might be described 

 by the description of the previous one, except that the 

 yellowish spot before eye and one wing, are lacking. 



Breeding along the salt marshes of San Francisco 

 Bay and north to Humboldt Bay, straying south in win- 

 ter, is found the Bryant's Sparrow (P. s. brjranti), a small 

 bird that is a bundle of brown stripes and markings. In 

 the salt marshes of southern California, is the Belding's 

 Sparrow (P. beldingi), another white speckled-breasted, 

 and brown striped little bird that resembles the Song 

 Sparrow. However, his note is a fine sit, quite unlike 

 our door yard favorite, although in his friendly way of 

 flying all about you as you watch him in the rank marsh 

 growths, he resembles Melodia. 



The song is rather a sweet little warble which is 

 chiefly pleasing because usually it is about the only one 

 heard, and it is given frequently and with vim. 



The Large-Billed Sparrow (Passerculus rostratus ros- 

 tratus) is found at the coast in southern California, 

 where it frequents the wharves and sandy beach nearby. 



It is about six inches long and has light grayish brown 

 upper parts, which are indistinctly streaked. The under 

 parts are almost entirely streaked with sandy brown. 

 The large, swollen bill, which curves from the base, is 

 helpful in identification. 



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