1912 BIRDS OF SOUTHERN" CALIFORNIA 77 



255. (540b) Pooecetes gramineus affinis G. S. Miller. Oregon Vesper 

 Sparrow. 



Common winter visitant, occurring- in company with the last species, but 

 more numerous on the damp meadows of the lowlands. Noted by J. Grinnell 

 at Pasadena in the fall as early as September 16 (1895), and by H. A. Gay- 

 lord, in the spring as late as April 25 (1896) (Pub. 2, Pasadena Acad. Sci.. 

 1898, 36). 



256. (542b) Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus Bonaparte. West- 

 ern Savannah Sparrow. 



Abundant winter visitant to the fields and meadows, from the coast to 

 the base of the mountains. Noted by J. Grinnell on San Clemente Island, 

 March 30, 1897 (Pub. 1, Pasadena Acad. Sci., 1897. 17), and in the vicinity 

 of Pasadena from September 18 (1897) to May 3 (1895) (Pub. 2, Pasadena 

 Acad. Sci., 1898, 36). A. B. Howell took a specimen at Santa Barbara, Sep- 

 tember 2, 1911. 



257. (543) Passerculus beldingi Ridgway. Belding Sparrow. 

 Abundant resident of the salt marshes along the coast, and on some of 



the alkali marshes a little distance from the ocean. Breeds mostly in May. 

 but 1 have seen nearly grown young as early as April 15. Type specimens 

 taken by L. Belding at San Diego in 1884 ( Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. vn, 1885, 

 516). Formerly bred commonly at Nigger Slough, Los Angeles County, 

 several miles from the coast. I took a set of four slightly incubated eggs in 

 that locality, May 15, 1906. Much less plentiful there at the present time. 

 L. Belding took two partially incubated eggs near San Diego, April 4, 1885 

 (Land Bds. Pac. Dist., 1890, 144), and H. A. Gaylord took three eggs, ad- 

 vanced in incubation, near Long Beach, Los Angeles County, July 5, 1895 

 (Grinnell, Pub. 2, Pasadena Acad. Sci.. 1898, 36). 



258. (544) Passerculus rostratus rostratus (Cassin). Large-billed 

 Sparrow. 



Common in winter in the salt marshes and along the beaches of southern 

 California, north to Santa Barbara, occasionally straggling up the coast as 

 far as Santa Cruz ( Mailliard, Condor vi, 1904, 16). Originally described 

 from San Diego ( Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. vt, 1852, 184). Frequently seen on 

 wharves and on the streets of beach towns. May be found along our coast 

 from August to late April, but is apparently absent in summer. Has been 

 repeatedly recorded as breeding along the coast of Los Angeles County, but 

 these records are probably all referable to the last species. Although I have 

 made a thorough search of our local salt marshes, I have never been able to 

 find the species in summer, nor has any other ornithologist of late years, though 

 it has been particularly sought for. 



A. W. Anthony and A. M. Ingersoll, who have collected extensively in 

 the coast marshes near San Diego, believe that it occasionally nests in that 

 locality. This belief is based on the fact that Mr. Ingersoll in one instance 

 saw a bird in breeding season carrying worms, as he believes, to a nest that 



