570 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



over the upper half of the lores, and in front of the eye, to a line continuous 

 with the cutting edge of the bill, and sends back a short branch to the eye, 

 which cuts off the white superciliary stripe. In gambeli the superciliary 

 stripe passes continuously forward to the asliy lores, cutting off the black from 

 the eye. The lower edge of the black anteriorly is much higher than in 

 leucophrys, and nearly on a line with the nostrils. 



We cannot give any positive character by which immature specimens of 

 hiLcophrys and gamheli may be distinguished, unless that the short dark line 

 from forehead to eye of the former is indicated by a greater amount of dusky 

 at the base of the feathers of that region. 



The young of this species, like that of Uucoflirys, is streaked with black- 

 ish on side of the throat, across the breast, and on the sides of body, instead 

 of being entirely unmarked beneath, as in the adult. 



One specimen, collected in the West Humboldt Mountains, connects this 

 form with leucoijhrys, and may possibly be a hybrid. In this there is a 

 black spot in front of the eye, but separated from the black of tlie crown by 

 the usual light superciliary stripe o{ gamheli. 



Some specimens from the coast region of California have the ash of head 

 and breast duller, and with a brownish cast, and the spots on the back black 

 instead of deep dark brown. 



Habits, The Westei'n White-crowned Sparrow is found in great abun- 

 dance, from Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, between the Eocky Mountains and 

 the Pacific. Dr. Suckley found this bird very abundant at Fort Dalles 

 and at Puget Sound, at both of which places it is a constant summer resi- 

 dent. It was always found in excellent condition. He states that it makes 

 its nest in low bushes, among the stalks of lupins and other shrub-like 

 weeds. Dr. Cooper also mentions that this bird is very abundant in all the 

 prairie districts of Washington Territory, especially wliere there are low 

 bushes. Unlike most of the Sparrows, it was also common on the coast 

 pr^airies, where he found it breeding. They arrive at the Straits of Fuca at 

 the end of March in large numbers, and leave for the South in October. He 

 afterwards found them at Fort Mohave, in the Colorado Valley, quite com- 

 mon throughout the winter, some remaining until the 15th of May, but he 

 does not think that any remain there to breed. They are also abundant, in 

 winter, from San Francisco south, through all the inhal)itable country. In 

 summer they are found in the Sierra Nevada, to their summits, and are also 

 plentiful in the regions north of the Columbia. A few remain, during the 

 sunnner, in the cool district about San Francisco. In June, 1854, Dr. Cooper 

 met with its nest near the mouth of the Columbia. It was built in a busli, 

 about a foot from the ground, formed of neatly interwoven grasses, and 

 lined with softer materials. He describes its song as loud, but short and 

 melancholy, heard at intervals during the whole year, and frequently at 

 night. 



The Western White-crowned Sparrow was first met with by Mr. Eidgway, 



