ii6 THE SAGE SPARROW. 



of that northward trend of species which we shall have frequent occasion 

 to remark. The passion of the North Pole cjuest is not merely a human 

 weakness: it is a deep-rooted instinct which we only share with the birds. 

 There was once a near-Eden yonder, a Pliocene paradise, from which the 

 cruel ice evicted us — birds and men — long, long ago. We go now to reclaim 

 our own. 



No. 45. 



SAGE SPARROW. 



A. O. U. No. 574.1. Amphispiza nevadensis (Ridgw.). 



Synonyms. — Artemisi.v Sparrow. Nev,'\da S.'VGE Sparrow. 



Description. — Adults: Upperparts (including auriculars and sides of neck) 

 ashy gray to ashy brown, clearer and grayer anteriorly, browner posteriorly ; pilcuni, 

 back and scapulars sharply and narrowly streaked with black ; wings and tail 

 dull black with light brownish or pale grayish edging; the rectrices marked with 

 white much as in preceding species ; a supraloral spot, an orbital ring and 

 (usually) a short median line on forehead white; sides of head slaty gray; lores 

 dusky ; underparts white, clearest on throat where bounded and set off from white 

 of malar area by interrupted chain of dusky streaks, occasionally with dusky 

 spot on center of breast, marked on sides and flanks with buffy and streaked 

 with dusky ; edge of wing pale yellow or yellowish white. Bill blackish above, 

 lighter below; legs dark brown, toes darker; iris brown. Young: "Pileum. hind- 

 neck, chest and sides, as well as back, streaked with dusky ; otherwise essentially 

 as in adults" (Ridgway). Underparts save on throat sometimes tinged with 

 yellowish or buft'y. Length of adult male about 6.00 (152.4) ; wing 3. 11 (79) ; 

 tail 2.95 (75) ; bill .39 (10) : tarsus .84 (21.5). Female a little smaller. 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size (barely); ashy gray plumage; zvhite 

 throat defined by dusky streaks. 



Nesting. — Nest: of twigs, sage bark, and "hemp" warmly lined with wool, 

 rabbit-fur, cow-hair or feathers, placed low in crotch of sage bush. Eggs: 3-5, 

 usually 4, Ijrownish- or greenish-gray as to ground, dotted, spotted or clouded, 

 rarelv scrawled, with chestnut or sepia and with some purplish shell markings. 

 Av. size .80 X .60 (20.3 X 15.2). Season: April, June; two broods. 



General Range. — Great Basin region of the Western United States, west 

 to eastern base of Sierra Nevada, east to eastern base of Rockies, north (at least) 

 to northern Washington ; south, in winter, into southern Arizona, etc. 



Range in Washington. — Upper Sonoran and Arid Transition life zones in 

 eastern Washington north at least to the Grand Coulee; summer resident. 



Authorities. — ["Sagebrush Sparrow" Johnson, Rep. Gov. W. T. 1884 (1885), 

 22.] Amphispiza belli iiC7'adeiisis. Dawson, W'ilson Bulletin, No. ^9, June. 1902, 

 p. 65. Ss'. Ss-'. 



Specimens. — U. of W. P. 



