200 SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES. 



Hah. Pacific Coast of the United States to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. 

 Stragglers as far east as Fort Leavenworth in winter, and Great Bend of jNIissouri. 



This species is abundant iii winter throngliout most parts of the State, 

 and resides in summer in tlie mountains, prohably down to the 32d i;)arallel, 

 though I have not determined its residence ah^ng tlie coast fartlier south 

 than Monterey. That locality is very cool, and an extensive forest of pines 

 coming down to the coast favors the residence of several Northern birds 

 during summer. At San Diego I observed them until April 1st, when they 

 probably retired to the high moimtaius visible a few miles back from the 

 coast. A few also visit the Colorado Valley in winter. 



On the Coast Mountains south of Santa Clara I found many of them breed- 

 ing in May, 1864 ; one nest I saw near the west base of the moimtain-s, 

 on the 13th, containing young j\ist ready to fly. It was built in a cavity 

 among the roots of a large tree on a steep bank, formed of leaves, grasses, and 

 fine root-fiVires, and covered outside with an al>undant coating of green moss, 

 raised aljove the general surface of the groiind. The old birds showed such 

 anxiety that I was induced to liunt for the nest nearly an hour before I 

 found it, being satisfied from their actions that it was there, thougli very 

 hard to find. The moment I saw it the young flew out in all directions, 

 and their parents seemed more alarmed than ever. 



On May 20th I discovered another nest on the very summit of the moim- 

 tains, probably a second laying, as it contained but three eggs. It was 

 slightly sunk in the groimd imder a fern (Ftcris), and formed like the other, 

 but with less moss around the edge ; some cow's and horse's hair was 

 also used in the lining. The eggs M-ere bluish-white, with blacki.sh and 

 brown sjiots of various sizes thickly sprinkled on the larger end, measuring 

 0.74 X ').C)0. According to Heermann, they build in bushes. 



The only song of tliis species is a faint trill, much like that of the chip- 

 ping sparrow {S2n~c/la socialis), delivered from the top of some low tree in 

 March and April. At other times they have merely the sharp cliirp or call- 

 note by which they are easily distinguished from most other sparrows. 

 Though migrating so far south in winter, they also remain diuring winter at 

 least as far north as the Columbia Kiver, frequenting the vicinity of houses 

 and barns, in great numbers, especially when the snow is on tlie ground, 

 and then meriting the name of their Eastern cousin, which usually appears 

 in the United States only in the season of snow. 



Tliey probably raise two broods in this State, and at Puget's Sound 

 I have seen young fledged as early as ]\Iay 24th. 



According to Dr. Cones, tliis species is an exceedingly abundant winter 

 resident in Arizona,, arriving at Fort Whipple early in October, and becom- 

 ing very numerous in a short time. They remain until the middle of April, 

 and stragglers are even seen mitil May, keeping quietly hidden in out- 



