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THE OREGON NATURALIST. 
WV OM: 
PORTLAND, OREGON, JUNE, 1895. 
No. 6. 
RUSTY SONG SPARROW. 
Melospiza fasciata guttata, 
Beinga part of the result of the work 
of the Northwestern Ornithological As- 
sociation for February, 1895. 
(Prepared by the president) 
This sparrow is a common resident of 
Western Oregon, abundant in summer, 
but less common in winter in most locali- 
ties. Mr Andrus of Douglass county 
states ‘‘This bird outnumbers all the rest 
with the exception of the Oregon Junco 
during’ winter, but during the breeding 
season is more shy, and if seen soon dis- 
appear.”’ 
It seems to prefer low wet ground where 
rose-briers and buck brush abound. Mr. 
Weeks of Portland savs ‘‘This 1s a quite 
common sparrow of Multnomah county, 
breeding in the low lands along creeks and 
small rivers.’? Mr. Hadley of Yamhill 
county says “It is very often found in 
company with Gambel’s Sparrow, though 
it seems to like to be nearer water. 
This species seems to be paired for life. 
A single pair remained around our premises 
all last winter, and where ever I have ob- 
served this species in either winter or sum- 
mer they have been in single pairs. 
The first half of May is the season for 
fresh eggs, though instances of early nest- 
ing have been recorded. Mr. Hadley, a 
few years ago, found a nest containing 
three eggs on March 15th incubation com- 
menced, and Mr. John Gibson of McMinn- 
ville, a youthful aspirant for oological 
fame, found a nest containing four fresh 
eggs on April 18th. 
The nest is usually placed above the 
ground in a small bush. Mr. Hadley says 
“The nest is composed of grass and 
weed stalks, lined with fine grass. It is 
placed in small bushes and trees and 
bunches of grass and weeds. 1 have 
never found any on the ground. They 
are from six inches to eight feet from the 
ground. 
No account of the eggs has come to 
hand. A set of three eggs in my collec- 
tion does not differ from those of AZ/elospiza 
Jasciata of the East. Measurements are 
WO 03, 205 X.62, 84 x 628 
HERE AND THERE 
FROM MY NOTE BOOK 
May 8, 1890 Found nest of Oregon Jay 
(Perisoreus obscurus) in the heavy timber 
of Clatsop Co. Ore., ina small hemlock 
about ten feet up. It was composed of 
dead twigs, lined with moss and feathers. 
