24 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



and occasionally elsewhere on the sides, have brownish shafts, not found in 

 the other. The differences are perhaps those of race, ratlier than of species, 

 thougli they are very appreciable. 



Habits. This species bears a very close resemblance to the >S'. pallida in 

 its external appearance, but there are certain constant differences which, with 

 the peculiarities of their distinctive distributions and habits, seem to estab- 

 lish their specific separation. The present bird is found from the Pacific 

 coast to the Eocky Mountains, and from the nortliern portion of California 

 to the Eio Grande and Mexico. Dr. Kennerly found it in February, 1854, 

 throughout New Mexico, from the Rio Grande to the Great Colorado, along 

 the different streams, where it was feeding upon the seeds of several kinds 

 of weeds. 



Dr. Heermann, while accompanying the surveying party of Lieutenant 

 Williamson, between the 32d and 35th parallels, found these Sparrows 

 throughout liis entire route, both in California and in Texas. On the pas- 

 sage from the Pimos villages to TucsOn he observed large flocks gleaning 

 their food among the bushes as they were moving southward. In the Tejon 

 valley, during the fall season, he was constantly meeting them associated 

 witli large flocks of other species of Sparrows, congregated around the cul- 

 tivated fields of the Indians, wliere they find a bountiful supply of seeds. 

 For this purpose they pass the greater part of the time upon the ground. 



Dr. Woodhouse also met with this Sparrow throughout New Mexico, 

 wherever food and water were to be found in suiificient quantity to sustain 

 life. 



In Arizona, near Fort Whipple, Dr. Coues states that this bird is a rare 

 summer resident. He characterizes it as a shy, retiring species, keeping 

 mostly in thick brush near the ground. 



Mr. Ridgway states that he found this interesting little Sparrow, while 

 abundant in all fertile portions, almost exclusively an inhabitant of open 

 situations, such as fields or bushy plains, among the artemesia especially, 

 where it is most numerous. It frequents alike the valleys and the moun- 

 tains. At Sacramento it was the most abundant Sparrow, frequenting the 

 old fields. In this respect it very much resembles the eastern Spizella 

 fusilla, from which, however, it is in many respects very difterent. 



The song of Brewer's Sparrow, he adds, for sprightliness and vivacity is 

 not excelled by any other of the North American FriugillidiC, being inferior 

 only to that of the Chondestes gramniaca in power and richness, and even 

 excelling it in variety and compass. Its song, while possessing all the plain- 

 tiveness of tone so characteristic of the eastern Field Sparrow, unites to this 

 quality a vivacity and variety fully equalling that of the finest Canary. 

 This species is not resident, but arrives about the 9th of April. He found 

 its nest and eggs in the Truckee Reservation, early in June. Tlie nests 

 were in sage-bushes about three feet from the ground. 



Dr. Cooper found small flocks of this species at Fort Mohave, after March 



