FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 339 



mountains. Along the willow bordered streams that run through 

 the mountain meadows in the Sierra its thin, sharp chip of parental 

 anxiety is often heard, and its song dominates the bird chorus. The 

 song is composed of two long whistled notes, the tirst sliding up to 

 the second with grace notes, the second followed b}^ a lower note 

 repeated rapidly three times. The two long whistled notes are rich 

 and plaintive in tone, suggesting the whistle of the pine woods 

 sparrow, and as they ring through the cool, pure air day after day 

 seem to give expression to the deep pervading peace and serenity of 

 the mountains. 



654a. Z. 1. gambelii {Nutt.) 



>SpAHHO\V. 



Similar to leuco/Jirt/s. but lores not black, wliit 

 iiig- to bill. Mdle : length (skins) 

 5.8.5-0.48, wing ;;.()0-;5.2'8, tail 2.."J8- 

 2.92, bill .39-.44. Female: length 

 (skins) 5.7-5-0.4;), -wing- 2.90-0.25, tail 

 2.04-2.9;^. bill .:59-.4;5. 



Distribution. — Breeds from Alaska 

 to Montana and eastern Oregon ; mi- 

 grates south through the western 

 United .States to Lower California 

 and Central Mexico ; straggling- east 

 to Iowa. 



Eggs. — Similar to those of the 

 white -crowned, but cinnaniou colored 

 or rusty style prevailing. 



Food. — Cutworms, caterpillars, and 

 other insects as well as weed seed. 



Gambel Sparrow : Intermediate 



liary stripe reach- 



Fig. 4--'7. 



554b. Z. 1. nuttalli llidgir. Nittall Sparrow. 



Adults. — Like leurof)fit\i/s, but lores not black and superciliary stripe 

 extending to bill ; median crown stripe usually narrower tlian lateral 

 stripes, edge of wing yellow, and adults with iip/)er /.arts broirn instead of 

 gray, streakings dark brown or l)lackisli. and under parts brownish grai/. 

 Young: groundcolor of u])pfr ))arts light buffy olive ; under parts jjale 

 Yellowish. M(th : length (skius) .").S0-0.(i7, wing 2.8;;-2.9(i. tail 2.(i8-2.9(), 

 bill .41-47. Fiindr: length (skins) 5.;57-(i.4(). wing 2.(i(;-2.79, tail 2.50- 



2.7;i, bill .;;9-.47. 



liemarks. — Of the tliree sparrows, the white-crown, the Xuttall. and the 

 Ganjbel. the white-crown may be distinguished by its l)lack oi- dark brown 

 b)res; tbe adult Xuttall sjjai'row by lirownish instead of grayish coloration; 

 and usually ;i median crown stiipe that is narrower than the lateral 

 stripes; an<l tbe adult (lambel by the combiuat ion of wliite lores, gray 

 c«>lor;itiou. and bro.ad median crown stripe. 



Distribution. — Breeds from Ilriiisli ( Olumbia to Monterey. California; 

 migrates t<t Lower Calif<»rni.i. 



Food. - - Insects. gi;iin. .and weed seed. 



657. Zonotrichia coronata (/'«//.). (iom>i.n-( uownkd Spakuow. 



Adults. — Crou-n inclosed by black stripes, with median strijie yellow in 



