FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 



595 



Young. Streaked above, the crown obsoletely, the back distinctly. Wliole breast and 

 sides with numerous short dusky streaks upon a white ground. Markings about the head 

 indistinct, wing-bands more distinct than in the adult. 



Hab. Middle Province of United 

 States, north to beyond 40° (resi- 

 dent). 



The difference in size between 

 the race of the Great Basin and 

 tliat of the southern Pacific Prov- 

 ince, of this species, is quite re- 

 markable, being much greater 

 than in any other instance with- 

 in our knowledge. This may, 

 perhaps, be explained by the fact 

 that the former is not migratory, 



Poofpiza belli, var. belli. 



but resident even in the most northern part of its range ; while the Califor- 

 nia one is also resident, and an inhabitant of only the southern portion of the 

 coast region, not reaching nearly so far north as the race of the interior. 



The coloration of tlie two races is quite identical, though in all specimens 

 of var. belli the dorsal streaks are obsolete, sometimes even apparently 

 wanting, wdiile in the var. nevadensis they are always conspicuous. The 

 former appears to be more brownish above than the latter. 



Habits. These birds, Mr. Ridgway states, have a very general distribution, 

 extending as far west as the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada. At Carson 

 City, February 27, he heard for the first time their sweet sad chant. A w^eek 

 later he found the sage-brush full of these birds, the males being in full song 

 and answering one another from all directions. In walking through the sage- 

 brush these Sparrows were seen on every side, some running upon the ground 

 with their tails elevated, uttering a chipping twitter, as they sought to conceal 

 themselves behind the shrubs. Some were seen to alight upon the tops of 

 dead stalks, where they sit with their tails expanded almost precisely after 

 the manner of the Kingbird. The song of this bird is feeble, but is unsur- 

 passed for sweetness and sadness of tone. While its effect is very like the 

 song of a Meadow Lark singing afar off, there is, besides its peculiar sad- 

 ness, something quite unique in its modulation and delivery. It is a chant, 

 in style somewhat like the spring warbling of the Shore Lark. 



On the 24th of March, at Carson City, he found these Sparrows very 

 abundant and everywhere the predominating species, as it was also the most 

 unsuspicious and familiar. It was even difficult to keep them from under 

 the feet. A pair would often run before him for a distance of several rods 

 with their unexpanded tails elevated, and when too nearly approached M-ould 

 only dodge in among the bushes instead of flying off. 



On the 9th of April, walking among tlic sage-brush near Carson City, ]\Ir. 

 Ridgway found several nests of this Sparrow, the female parent in each 



