SPIZELLA ARIZ0NJ3. 479 



Spizella SOCIALIS. 



Chipping Sparrow. 



ft. arkoncB. 

 {So' -ho-qiwy' -e-tse of the Sliosbones.) 



Spizella socialis, Baikd, Birds N. Am., 1858, 473 (part); Cat. N. Am. Birds, 1859, 

 No. 359 (part).— Cooper, Oru. Cal., I, 1870, 207. 



Spizella socialis var. arizonw, CouES, Key, 1872, 143 ; Check List, 1873, No. 178a. 

 — B. B. & E., Hist. N. Am. Birds, if, 1S74, 11.— Henshaw, 1875, 277. 



Spizella socialis. a. arizonce, CouES, Birds N.W., 1874, 148. 



The common Chipping Sparrow was found to be very generally 

 distributed, although it was a commoner species in the valley portions than 

 on the mountains. It was a strictly arboreal bird, however, and tlius in- 

 habited different localities from 8. hreweri, even when both were found 

 in the same neighborhood. In the environs of Sacramento City it was 

 particularly numerous; and although the door-yards, gardens, and orchards 

 were alike inhabited by it, the groves of small oak-trees in the inclosed 

 fields were its favorite abode, where it nested in company with Choudestes 

 grammaca, Chrysomitris tristis, and other equally abundant species. 



In the Interior it was found in all wooded districts, but, contrary to 

 the rule elsewhere, was less abundant among the cotton woods of the 

 river-valleys than in the groves of cedars and mahoganies on the lower 

 slopes of the mountains, of which it was eminently characteristic. No- 

 where did we find it in greater abundance than among these woods on the 

 eastern slope of the Ruby Mountains, for there it was the most numerous 

 of all the birds in July and August, associating in large flocks during the 

 latter month, evidently preparing for their departure southward, which 

 commenced in September. We have never observed the eastern form of 

 this species to be gregarious to this extent, but no differences could be 

 detected in its habits during the breeding-season, nor in any of its notes. 

 List of specimens. 



848, ?«.(/.; East Humboldt Mountains, July 20, 1868. 5J— 8|— (!)— 2y%. Bill, dark 

 sepia-slate, darker terminally, lower mandible more lilaceous; iris, vandyke; tarsi and 

 toes, pinkish sepia-white. 



SCO, nest and eggs (4); Ruby Mountains (east slope), altitude about S,(I0I) leet, 

 August 5, 1868. Nest in mountain-mahogany tree, six feet from ground. 



1187, nest and eggs (4); Salt Lake City (City Creek Caiion), Utah, Juuc 19, 1809. 

 Npst in scrub-oak, six feet from ground. 



