PERCHING BIRDS 



578. Cassin's Sparrows Peuccea cassini. 



Range. — Plains and valleys from Texas and Arizona 

 north to Kansas and Nevada. 



These birds breed in numbers on the 

 arid plains, placing their grass nests on 

 the ground at the foot of small bushes 

 or concealed in tufts of grass, and during 

 May lay four pure white eggs which are 

 of the same size and indistinguishable 

 from those of others of the genus. 

 Whitu 



.079. RuFous-wiNGED Sparrow. AiviopliUa carpulis. 



Range. — Plains of western Mexico and north to southern 

 Arizona. 



This pale colored bird bears a remote 

 resemblance to the Tree Sparrow. They 

 nest commonly in dry arid regions, plac- 

 ing their nests at low elevations in 

 bushes or cacti, preferably young mes- 

 quites, and making them of coarse grass 

 lined with finer. Two broods are raised |.|,,^| 

 a season and from May to August sets 

 of four or five plain bluish white eggs may be found. 



)-5S0 

 Size .Tf) X .HO. 



580. RiFOUS-CROWNED Sparrow. Aimophila riificeps ruficeps. 



Range. — Local in southern half of California and in Lower California. 



A brownish colored species both above and below, which is found on mount- 

 ains and hillsides in restricted localities. They nest on the ground placing their 

 grass structures in hollows, usually at the foot of a small bush or shrub and 

 well concealed. They lay from three to five pale bluish white eggs. Size 

 .80 X .60. 



.TSOa. Scott's Sparrow. Ainiophila ruficeps scotti. 



Range. — Western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona south in Mexico. 



A paler species, above, than the last, and whitish below. It is quite a com- 

 mon species on the mountain ranges where it nests on the ground, in clumps of 

 grass or beneath shrubs or overhanging rocks; the nests are made of grasses 

 and weeds scantily put together. The eggs are white, untinted. Size .80 x .60. 



oSOb. Rock Sparrow. AimopJiila ruficeps eremceca. 



Range.^ — Middle and southern Texas and south in Mexico. 



This variety frequents rocky mountain sides where it nests , -'' 

 abundantly under rocks or at the foot of shrubs, the nests 

 being made of coarse grasses loosely twisted together and 

 lined with finer grass. The birds are shy and skulk off 

 through the underbrush upon the approach of anyone so that 

 the nests are quite difficult to find. The three to five eggs are whUi' 



pure white and of the same size as those of the last. 



.'iSOc. Laguna Sparrow. Aimophila ruficeps sororia. 



Range. — Mountains of southern Lower California. 



The nests and eggs of this very similar variety to riificeii^ proper are not 

 likely to differ in any particular from those of that species. 



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