NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN'S SPARROW 1473 



tered, and with thick grass beneath, was the preferred habitat * * * 

 and here the birds literally swarmed. I was accustomed to think of 

 this species as being rather solitary in its habits, but here, whether or 

 not the birds were in constantly associated flocks, their choice of sur- 

 roundings brought hundreds of them closely together." He counted 

 15 birds in view at one time. The species was still present in reduced 

 numbers September 7th. 



Grinnell (1909) states "On Chichagof Island it was not uncom- 

 mon along the edge of the timber near the river at Hooniah, June 21 

 to 27, where it was breeding. Littlejohn found a nest there June 26, 

 in the moss on the side of a fallen, half-buried log just above high- 

 water mark. It was well concealed by overhanging vegetation. 

 The nest was located by watching the female parent feed the five 

 young which were thought to be about six days old. She was very 

 shy about approaching the nest." The same author (1910) describes 

 a nest Miss Alexander found at the head of Cordova Bay June 10 as: 



well concealed in a rather straggling clump of the stiff brush characterizing the 

 local habitat of the species. It was located at the base of a low-lying branch that 

 almost completely covered it. The nest (no. 39) presents a firm structure, ex- 

 ternally 67 mm. deep by 100 in width. This does not, however, probably include 

 whatever peripheral loosely laid material there may have been. The cup-shaped 

 cavity is 38 mm. deep by 53 wide. Externally the nest consists of layers of brown 

 willow leaves of the previous season. Within this and making up the rim, is a 

 basket-work of rather coarse, weathered grayish stems and blades of grass. 

 Finally the nest-lining is of fine, round, yellowed grasses. 



The measurements of 40 eggs average 19.4 by 14.2 millimeters; the 

 eggs showing the four extremes measure 20.8 by 14.7, 19.8 by 15.5, 

 17.8 by 13.7, and 18.0 by 13.2 millimeters. 



Distribution 



Range. — Southeastern Alaska to central California. 



Breeding range. — The northwestern Lincoln's sparrow breeds in 

 the coastal district of southeastern Alaska (Yakutat Bay, Juneau) 

 and central British Columbia (Doch-da-on, intergrades with M. I. 

 lincolnii; Queen Charlotte Islands, Porchcr Island); rarely on Van- 

 couver Island (in mountains). 



Winter range. — Winters chiefly in central California (Lakeport, 

 Colusa, Morro Bay, Walker Basin); rarely south to southern Cali- 

 fornia (Tia Juana River), northern Baja California (El Valle de la 

 Trinidad), southwestern Arizona (The Needles), central Sonora 

 (Maicoba), and Coahuila (Sierra del Carmen). 



