88 Proceedings of the 



peared. The old birds remained near the nest but they did 

 not build again nor did the female lay again in the old 

 nest. 



The trusting and fearless nature of these sparrows was 

 always in evidence Often they would merely hop a few 

 steps out of the way of an approaching observer and go 

 about their business of picking up seeds from the prairie 

 roadside as though no one was within their horizon. If 

 sufliciently startled they might fly, but it was rarely for 

 any great distance. When flushed in this manner the con- 

 spicuous white border of the tail became very noticeable 

 as the birds spread that member in flight. 



The call note of these Western Lark Sparrows is not 

 particularly distinctive although it is easy to recognize 

 when heard, but their song an exceedingly rich and varied 

 mixture of w^histled notes, quite sustained and with a dis- 

 tinct undercurrent of a peculiar buzzing or purring nature, 

 hard to descibe but quite unmistakable and character- 

 istic. The birds could be heard singing throughout the 

 day at the Reserve, and frequently even at night their 

 song was noted when the Screech Owls and the Long-tailed 

 Chats led the nocturnal clioir. 



86. Zonotrichia qiicrnla (Nuttall)— Harris Sparrow. 



When I reached Halsey in 1912 there was a single be- 

 lated Harris Sparrow in the neighborhood of the Reserve. 

 I saw it on May 15 in a thicket at the base of the hills and 

 May 17 I found probably the same bird in the brush along 

 the river. The species is very likely in this region both a 

 migrant and a winter resident during mild seasons, since 

 it was noted commonly by M. H. Swenk October 27-29, 

 1910. 



87. Zonotrichia Icucophrys gambeli (Nuttall) — Gambel Spar- 



row. 



I saw a dozen or more Gambel Sparrows on September 

 21 and 22, 1911, in the plum brush along the river. F. M. 

 Chapman lists the species in May, 1906 and it is very likely 

 of common occurrence during migrations early in the 

 spring and late in the fall. 



88. SpiacUa monticola ochracca Brewster — Western Tree Spar- 



row. 



"The most abundant bird in the locality, October 27- 

 29, 1910." (M. H. Swenk). 



