82 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 9 



for they always seem more friendly during the most foggy weather when other 

 birds are all too inconspicuous. 



Golden -CROW NED Sparrow. Zonotrichia coronata (Pallas). 



How frequently, in the study of ornithology, does the unexpected happen 1 

 On the fifteenth of last March the writer greatly enjoyed a brief visit from Mr. 

 Joseph Grinnell, of Berkeley, and in the forenoon we drove out north of Fresno 

 five or six miles. I had just informed him that the Golden-crowned Sparrow was 

 one of the rarest of our winter visitants, and that only two days before I had 

 noted my first bird in ten years. Hardly had 1 finished speaking when a half 

 dozen or more of these birds arose from some weeds near the roadside and flew 

 to a row of willows along a ditch. This, to me very unexpected appearance, 

 must have caused my companion to doubt the thoroughness and accuracy of my 

 previous observations ! 



March 13, 191 1, I saw two Golden-crowns on the lawn in front of my home. 

 They were noted before sunrise in company with several migratmg Western 

 Chipping Sparrows. Previous to that time I had watched for them during ten 

 winters but had never detected even a single individual, although Miss Winifred 

 Wear tells me that she has a number of records from November 10 (1910) until 

 April 26 (1908). Until more of these birds have been observed the writer cannot 

 record the Golden-crowned Sparrow as anything but a rare winter visitant. 



Western Chipping Sparrow. Spizella passerina arizonae Coues. 



Although an abundant spring migrant through the valley, this little sparrow- 

 is one of the least common of our summer visitants. Each day during the last 

 half of March a goodly number of these red-capped little fellows appear, usually 

 as soon as it is daylight, and remain for several hours ; but by noon all have dis- 

 appeared, and until the following morning brings another company, an observer 

 would not suspect the presence of this species anywhere in this part of the valley. 

 During these brief forenoon calls the birds usually feed about lawns in the city, 

 or trill musically from the shade trees along the street. March 28, 191 1, I count- 

 ed six of these sparrows on the lawn in front of my home and there were a doz- 

 en more in the yard. The first arrivals were noted on March 13 that year. 



Although I have several times seen Chipping Sparrows at a time when the 

 species should be nesting, yet only one instance of actual breeding has come 

 within my notice, on June 8, 191 2, when a nest with four half-incubated eggs 

 was found near Clovis. June 23, 1905, a single Western Chipping Sparrow was 

 seen in company with several Western Lark Sparrows, but there was nothing to 

 indicate that it might be a breeding bird. 



All through the month of June, 191 1, from one to five or six of these spar- 

 rows were to be seen in the Fresno County court house park where they hopped 

 along the grass chipping contentedly. They appeared thoroughly at home, yet I 

 doubt if they nested in the park. 



As this bird lives, to a great extent, on food picked up from the ground, it 

 can do no harm during its short stay in the spring. It might be easily overlooked 

 entirely by one not familiar with its habits and song. 



Brewer Sparrow. Spizella breweri Cassin. 



Brewer Sparrows, although almost unknown in the region about Fresno up 



