84 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 9 



severe storms as lone individuals in flocks of the Sierra Junco, and soon disap- 

 pear again. 



California Sage Sparrow. Amphispiza nevadensis canescens Grinnell. 



The occurrence of this bird in Fresno County was brought to my notice by 

 my friend Joseph Sloanaker who found it to be the most common winter sparrow 

 in the vicinity of Raisin, with the possible exception of the Intermediate White- 

 crowned Sparrow. 



The plains in that part of the county are covered with clumps of bushes 

 characteristic of the semi-arid regions, and apparently exactly suited to this des- 

 ert-loving bird. 



1 have no information as to whether or not this sparrow, as recorded from 

 Raisin, is a breeding species, but conditions there seem favorable ; future field 

 work will have to determine this point. The first record of the occurrence of the 

 California Sage Sparrow in this region appeared in The Condor, xiii, 1911, 

 p. 76. 



HeERMAnn Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia heermanni Baird. 



The presence of water is such an essential to the welfare of this sparrow 

 that the bird's range may easily be determined by learning where water is to be 

 found. As has been pointed out by Mr. Grinnell (Condor, xiii, 1911, p. no), 

 the irrigation system that is at present extended to so many points in the valley, 

 has been the means of giving this bird a much wider range than it had in former 

 years. Reasoning from the theory that any given locality is tenanted by as many 

 birds as it will support, we may safely assume that there are at present at least 

 three times as many song sparrows in Fresno County as there were in 1900. 



Definite breeding stations within the Fresno district may be mentioned a.^ 

 follows : Fresno, Clovis, Letcher, I^ane's Bridge, Malaga, and Wheatville. Doubt- 

 less many other points could be added to this list with a little field work. 



This is a bird that is easily overlooked, as it prefers the seclusion of rank 

 grass, tules, and willow saplings. It sometimes comes into view, however, and 

 pours forth its monotonous, yet pleasing, song from a swaying tule stalk from 

 which the singer can hurriedly dive to a place of concealment at the slightest 

 alarm. The vocal efforts of this bird always suggest the cool, moist, willow- 

 grown areas where the blackbird's "kong-ker-ee" and the whistling notes of the 

 Western Yellowthroat make a fit accompaniment. A sort of sentiment attache^ 

 to the song sparrow, having a tendency to cause it to find favor with nearly ev- 

 erybody ; and since it can be accused of taking neither fruit nor grain it is worthy 

 of our protection at all times. Doubtless untold hundreds of insects that would 

 breed in swampy places and spread out over adjoining fields and vineyards, are 

 destroyed by this sparrow. 



As this species is resident wherever it occurs, it is an early breeder. The 

 birds begin nesting early in April and continue from that time until the last of 

 June, my earliest and latest dates being April 8 (1911), for four fresh eggs, and 

 Tune 27 (1901), for a like number in the same condition. Probably two broods 

 are raised under normal conditions. Heermann Song Sparrows are not at all 

 particular when it comes time to select a site for a nest, the principal requisite 

 being a tuft of grass or bunch of leaves that will conceal the nest and at the same 



