AG U. S. p. R. E. EXr. AND SURVEYS — ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. 



insects, which form their principal nourishment. At this period they are easily approached, 

 and large numbers may he killed at a single shot. During summer, they are seen frequenting 

 tlie roads and flying a few paces before the traveller as he advances. The nest, sunk in a slight 

 hollow iu the ground, is composed of grasses lined with fine hair. The eggs, four to five in 

 number, are light green ash, covered thickly with minute light umber brown spots, sometimes 

 forming a crown at the larger end of the egg. 



EMBERNAGRA CHLORURA, To wns .— Blanding's Finch. 



Embemnffra blandiriffiatia, Gambel. — Cassis's B of Tex. & Cal., p. 70, pi. 12. 



Fringilla hlandingiana, Gambel, Proceed. Ac. N. Sc. Phil, vol. I, p 2G0. 



FringUla chlorura,' A.VD. Om. Biog. vol. V, p. 336. 



Zonotriclda chlorura, Heermann, Jour. Ac. N. S. Phil. 2d series, vol. I, p. 51, pi. 9, fig. 1. 



Fipilo chlorura, Baird, Geu. Rep. IX, 519. 



I met with a single specimen of this bird in the Tejon valley, where I discovered it among a 

 flock of sparrows consisting of several varieties. On a former occasion I procured a single bird 

 of this species in Sacramento valley, and consider it as accidental in California, or at least in the 

 northern part of it. 



POOSPIZA BELLII, Ca ssi n .—Bell's Bunting, 



Ihnberiia bellii, Cassin, Proceed. Ac. N. S. Phil. vol. V, p. 105, pi. 4. 

 Poospiza bellii, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 470. 



In the fall of 1851 I first noticed this species in the mountains bordering the Cosumnes river, 

 and on the late expedition we found it in great numbers on the broad tract of arid land lying 

 between Kern river and the Tejon Pass, and again on the desert between this latter and the 

 Mohave river, often wandering at a great distance from water. The Picolaples hrunneicapillus, 

 two kinds of woodpecker, an occasional raven, and this species, apjiear to be the only birds 

 inhabiting these large and desolate plains, where the artemisia {Larrea mexicana) alone 

 flourishes amid the surrounding weak and scanty vegetation. When undisturbed, it chants 

 merrily its ditty from some bush top, but upon the appearance of danger drops at once to the 

 ground and disappears in the shrubbery or grass. The nest, built in a bush, is composed of 

 twigs and grasses, lined with hair. The eggs, four in number, are light greenish blue, marked 

 with reddish purple spots differing in intensity of shade. 



PASSERCULUS ROSTRATUS, Cassin .—Large-billed Sparrow. 



Emberiza roslrala, Cassin, Proceed. Ac. Nat. S. Phil. vol. VI, p. 184. 



In 1851 I procured this bird on the shores of the Bay of San Diego, and also, during the late 

 survey, in considerable numbers at Santa Barbara and San Pedro. It frequents the low sandy 

 beach and tlie heavy sedge grass which fringes the shores, where it feeds upon the marine insects 

 and seeds thrown up by the tides and in which it finds quick and easy concealment when closely 

 pursued. 



SPIZA AMOENA, Say .—Lazuli Painted Finch. 



Spiza avwena, AuD. B of A. Oct. Vol. Ill, p. 100, pi. 171. 



FringUla amoma, Add. B. A. Fol. pi. 398.— Bonap. Am. Orn. vol. I, p. 61, pi. G, fig. 5 — Nutt, Oin. vol. I, p. 473. 



Emberiza amoena, Sav, Long's Exped. to Rocky mts. vol. II, p. 47. 



This beautiful little species teems over the wliole surface of California during the summer 

 months ; having been observed in the mountains near Shasta City, in the Sacramento valley. 



