BOTTERI'S SPARROW 977 



irrigation ditclies, grassy pastures, cultivated fields, and acacia- 

 mesquite-cactus scrub were in close proximity (Webster, IvIS.)- 



Botteri's sparrow is a terrestrial bird, spending most of its time on 

 the ground where it feeds. It flushes rather readily, and then flies to 

 the nearest bush, fence post, wall or, more rarely, tree. Frequently 

 it drops back into the grass after flying a short distance. In Aiizona 

 its associate birds are mainly scaled quails, western kingbirds, ash- 

 throated flycatchers, mockingbirds, eastern meadowlarks, Cassin's 

 sparrows, and black- throated sparrows; and, in some locaUties, yeUow- 

 throats and blue grosbeaks. Francis Harper (1930) hsts its Texas 

 associates as Cassin's sparrows (especiaUy), long-billed curlews, up- 

 land plover, horned larks, eastern meadowlarks, and black-throated 

 sparrows. In Zacatecas, Jahsco, and Durango its commonest asso- 

 ciates are: in short-grass plains— red-tailed hawks, prairie falcons, 

 sparrow hawks, horned larks, eastern meadowlarks, and grasshopper 

 sparrows; in open grassland with mesquite-cactus-acacia scrub — ■ 

 Cassin's kingbirds, horned larks, mockingbirds, curve-billed thrashers, 

 loggerhead shrikes, eastern meadowlarks, brown towhees, and black- 

 chinned sparrows (Webster, MS.). In Nayarit common associates 

 are bobwhites, ground chats, and eastern meadowlarks (Phiflips, MS.). 



Nesting. — Information on the nesting of Botteri's sparrow is 

 singularly lacking. Gale Monson (1947) pointed out the absence of 

 positive nesting evidence for Arizona, despite the species' presence in 

 the state from mid-May to early October. The sexual condition of 

 birds collected in the state, even in August, plus two September and 

 October specimens in mostly juvenal plmnage suggest that they do 

 nest there. 



In Texas the species nests mainly in June, with a nesting density of 

 one nest to each 10 acres on the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife 

 Refuge (Davis and Gill, 1948). 



The few nesting dates I have for Mexico, in regions not adjacent 

 to Arizona and Texas, faU in May, June, and July; none of these 

 appears to be a positive record, however. Birds still partly in juvenal 

 plumage have been taken in Nayarit in November. 



No exact information on the type of nest location preferred or on 

 the type of materials used in construction is available. The nest is 

 said to be placed on the ground. 



Eggs. — Authentic egg data are almost lacking. The species re- 

 portedly lays from two to five, usually four unspotted white eggs. 

 They are ovate and have only a slight gloss. The measurements of 

 28 eggs average 19.8 by 15.2 milhmeters; the eggs shouing the four 

 extremes measure 214 by 16.5, 18.3 by 14.7, and 19.3 by 13.9 

 millimeters. 



