196 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



throughout winter, and some remaining as late as May 15th, l)ut I Cduld 

 find no nests, and douht very mucli whether they Luild there, as tliey aU 

 seem to desert the coast south, of Santa Cruz, during summer. In winter 

 tliey abound tlirough all the inhabitahle country south of San Francisco, 

 and in summer wander to the summits of the Sierra Nevada, and the 

 regions north of the Columbia, a few remaining near San Francisco in 

 the cold district, subject to the sea breeze at that season. 



Near the mouth of the Columbia I found a nest of this bird in June, 

 1854. It was built in a bush, not more than a foot from the ground, 

 formed of grasses neatly interwoven, and Lined with softer materials. The 

 eggs, if my memory of them is correct, were fom- or ti\-e in number, -white, 

 with thinly scattered dark sjjots near the large end. 



The song of this species is loud but short, and remarkably melancholy. 

 It may be heard during the whole year at intervals, and frequently at night, 

 wlien its sad tone seems peculiarly suited to the darkness. 



They are familiar little birds, tlie flocks spending most of the cool niontlis 

 around dwellings and barns, and I have been told that they sometimes build 

 in gardens. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys, Forster. 



THE WHITE-CROWNED SPAKEOW. 



Emhrixi leiicophri/s, Forster, I'liil. Trans. LXII. 1772, 382, 426. — Fringilla leucophri/s, 

 SwAiNSON, Fauna Bor. Amer. II. 255. — Audubon, Orn. Biog. II. 1834, 88 ; pi. 114. 

 Zunotridda leucophrys, SwAiNSON, BoNAPAKTE, List, 1838. — Baird, Birds N. Amer. 

 458. 



Sr. Cn.\i5. Very similar to Z. Gambclii, as above dcscribi'd, but tlic white stripe from 

 bill over eye, instead of being continuous, is interrupted by a short black line reaching 



from the black stripe on each side the head to the anterior portion of the eye. Size 

 and proj)ortions of Z. Gamhelii. 



