350 



FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



which offsets the gray of the branches, results in a most effective 

 disguise, 



GENUS AMPHISPIZA. 



General Characters. — Bill small, nearly straight ; wing- slightly rounded, 

 but without elongated inner secondaries ; tail not shorter than wings, 

 feathers rounded at ends ; tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, side 

 toes of unequal length. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



1. Throat black. 

 2. Smaller ; upper parts darker. Kansas to central Texas. 



bilineata. p. 350. 

 2'. Larger, upper parts paler and browner. Western Texas to California. 



deserticola, p. 350. 

 1'. Throat white. 

 2. Smaller and darker. West of Sierra Nevada . . . belli, p. 351. 

 2'. Larger and paler. Sagebrush plains . . . nevadensis, p. 351. 



573. Amphispiza bilineat a (Cass.). Black-throated Sparrow. 



Adults. — Lores and throat patch black ; sides of head dark gray with 

 two white stripes, under parts mainly white ; 

 upper parts plain grayish brown ; tail, except 

 middle feathers, marked with white. Young: 

 without distinct black markings ; throat white, 

 often marked with gray ; chest streaked ; wing 

 coverts and edges of tertials light buffy brown. 

 Male : length (skins) 4.80-5.25, wing 2.43-2.60, 

 tail 2.27-2.47, bill .38-.39. Female: length 

 (skins) 4.75-5.35, wing 2.38-2.60, taU 2.18-2:45, 

 bill .38-.40. 



Distribution. — From western Kansas south 

 to middle and eastern Texas and northeastern 

 Mexico. 



Nest. — In bushes, sagebrush, and other 

 desert shrubs, composed of fine shreds of bark. 

 Eggs : 3 or 4, plain greenish or bluish white, rarely lightly spotted. 



573a. A. b. deserticola Ridgw. Desert Sparrow. 



Adults. — Similar to A. bilineata " but averaging larger ; upper parts 

 paler and browner, and white spot at end of inner web of outermost tail 

 feather much smaller." (Ridgway.) Young: feathers of back edged 

 with buffy rufous ; breast streaked with gray ; belly white. Male : length 

 (skins) 4.90-5.45, wing 2.52-2.78, tail 2.40-2.69, "bill .39-.42. Female : 

 length (skins) 4.80-5.20, wing 2.45-2.60, tail 2.32-2.49. bill .36-.41. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Lower Sonoran zone on the arid plains from 

 western Texas and New Mexico — west of 103° — to the coast of south- 

 ern California, and from northern Utah and Nevada south to northern 

 Mexico and Lower California. 



Nest. — In sagebrush, cat's-claw, cactus, or other bushes, loosely made 

 of dry grass and fine plant stems, lined with feathers, horsehair, and wool. 

 Eggs : 3 or 4, bluish white. 



On long hot rides over the larrea and low mesquite plains of New 

 Mexico the desert sparrow is the commonest bird of the way, its 



Fig. 438. 



