440 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE YO SEMITE 



An account of the 'natural' history of a region ought, perhaps, not take 

 notice of 'introduced' species; but so forcefully has the English Sparrow 

 made a place for itself in our fauna that we feel we must accord it brief 

 mention. The status of this species in the West is still rapidly changing, 

 and so whatever we write of it here must be considered only as showing 

 its condition for the years 1914 to 1920, when we worked in the region. 



In May, 1915, it was seen at Mount Bullion, and the Marre Brothers, 

 long residents at that place, stated that the birds had been present for 

 between 10 and 15 years. At Snelling on May 28, 1915, it was fairly 

 common, and numerous young were noted about the corrals of the town 

 livery stable. In May, 1919, it was seen in the streets of Coulterville, and 

 residents told us that it had been present for a number of years. We did 

 not see it there on either of two brief visits to the town in 1915. At 

 Pleasant Valley no trace of the species was found when we worked the 

 locality in May, 1915, but Mr. Donald D. McLean tells us (1919) that 

 since that time he has noted a flock of the birds there. Up to 1919 nothing 

 had been seen of the English Sparrow in Yosemite Valley, but in 1920 a 

 pair, probably the entering wedge for establishment of this intruder in 

 the Valley, was seen in the barnyard at Kenneyville on September 2 (C. W, 

 Michael, MS). As the English Sparrow seems still to be extending its 

 range in California it would not be surprising to find it as time goes on 

 at other localities in the Yosemite region. 



Vesper Sparrows. Pooecetes gramineus (Gmelin)^^ 



Field characiers.- — Size near that of Junco. Upper surface of body streaked with 

 brown and black; under surface whitish, narrowly streaked on breast and sides with 

 dark brown; outermost tail feather on each side mostly white (fig. 54b) ; patch at bend 

 of wing bay-colored, though not so striking a mark as to be readily seen at any distance. 

 Voice: Song of male somewhat like that of White crowned Sparrow but yet distinct; 

 two or three low clear notes, then two or more higher ones, and finally a succession of 

 buzzy trills. 



Occurrence. — Common summer visitant east of Sierras, from Silver and Walker lakes 

 eastward around Mono Lake (race confinis). Also winter visitant in moderate numbers 

 on west side of mountains, where found at Lagi'ange and Dudley (race affinis). Fre- 

 quents dry grassy ground, either entirely open or among scattering bushes. Met with 

 singly or (in winter) in scattering assemblages. 



25 Two subspecies of the Vesper Sparrow occur in the Yosemite region. The Western 

 Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus confinis Baird, a summer visitant to the Great 

 Basin and known by its larger size and grayer tone of coloration, is to be found from 

 May until September in the vicinity of Mono Lake. The Oregon Vesper Sparrow, 

 Pooecetes gramineus affinis Miller, which summers in the western parts of Oregon and 

 Washington and is known by its smaller size and warm brownish coloration, has been 

 found as a winter visitant in the western part of the Yosemite section, more definitely, 

 at Lagrange on December 19, 1915, and at Dudley, October 8, 1916. The differences 

 between these races are so slight that individuals of the two would scarcely be distin- 

 guishable in the field, even should representatives chance to occur on common ground. 



