52 NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



217. Black Snowbird — junco hyemalis. Grayish or greenish-white, 

 marked with spots of reddish-brown, or pale chocolate, confluent around 

 the larger portion of the egg; four to six, oval in form; size .80 by .60. 

 The eggs have no positive characteristics, resembling very closely several 

 other kinds, laid by allied sparrows. This common, familiar bird nests in 

 mountainous regions, as far south as Virginia, and thence to New York 

 and the northern parts of the New England States, breeding only in the 

 highlands, but descending more into the plains as it proceeds north. The 

 nest is built on the ground, and is not to be distinguished with certainty 

 from that of some of the other sparrows which nest in a similar manner. 



Hall. Eastern United States to the Missouri, and as far west as Black Hills. 



218. Oregon Snowbird — junco oregonus. Greenish-white, marked 

 about the larger end with fine dots of reddish-brown; three or four; size 

 .74 by .60. This bird is very abundant in Oregon and Washington Terri- 

 tory, and is numerous throughout the winter in nearly every part of Cali- 

 fornia; resides in summer among the mountains down to the 32 parallel. 

 It is found breeding abundantly on the Coast Mountain south of Santa 

 Clara. The nest is usually placed on the ground, slightly sunken in a 

 hollow. It is formed of leaves, grasses and fine root fibre, covered outside 

 with a coating of green moss. The nidification of all the Snowbirds is 

 similar. 



Hab. Pacific coast of United States to the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, and north to Alaska. 

 Stragglers as far east as Fort Leavenworth in winter, and Great Bend of Missouri. 



224. Black-throated Sparrow — amphispiza bilineata. Pure white, 

 with a slight tinge of blue, resembling those of Bachman's Finch; four or 

 five; size .70 to .75 in length, and .155 to .60 in breadth. This bird is 

 found from Western Texas, through part of Mexico, New Mexico, the 

 Indian Territoriy, and Arizona, to Southern California and toward the 

 north throughout the Great Basin. In portions of this range it is migra- 

 tory, and only resident in the summer months. The nest is placed in 

 bushes, usually sage bushes, about a foot from the ground. It is made of 

 straws and lined with fine roots, some with cotton. 



Hab. Middle Province of United States, north to 4U", between Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. 



225. Bell's Sparrow — amphispiza belli. Light greenish-blue, marked 

 with reddish-purple spots, differing in intensity of shade; usually four in 

 number. Bell's Sparrow is an abundant bird in all the extensive thickets 

 throughout the southern half of California. It has been found as far north 

 as Sacramento Valley, and in the Valley of the Gila. The nest is built in 

 a bush about three feet from the ground, composed of grasses and slender 



weeds, and lined with hair. H.ab. southern California. 



