BIRD NOTES AFIELD 



sparrow occurs in the mountains of southern California, recently de- 

 scribed as Stephen's Sparrow {Passerella iliaca stephensi Anthony). 

 The Thick-Billed Sparrow (Passerella iliaca megarhyncha Baird) is 

 the variety of the fox-sparrow breeding in the Sierra Nevada Mountains 

 and higher Coast Range. It is colored olive slaty above, and the bill is 

 much larger and thicker than in Townsend's sparrow. Otherwise they 

 are practically alike. The Slate-colored Sparrow (Passerella iliaca 

 schistacea Baird) is another variety of the fox-sparrow, occurring in 

 the Rocky Mountains and straying occasionally into the Sierra Nevada 

 Mountains during migrations. It is similar to the preceding, but smaller, 

 and with more slender bill. In the mountains of southern California 

 another race with stouter bill has been distinguished as Stephens' Spar- 

 row (Passerella iliaca stephensi Anthony) . 



137. Spurred Towhee; Pipilo maculatus megalon^x (Baird). 



A western variety of the towhee-bunting, chewink or ground-robin 

 of the eastern states. Length, eight and a half inches. Upper parts 

 black, with white markings on wings and tail, and spots on back, the 

 black extending around on the throat and upper breast, in sharp contrast 

 to the white of under parts; sides broadly marked with rufous. Found 

 in low shrubbery or on the ground. Female with black replaced by 

 dark slaty brownish. An abundant and generally distributed species 

 throughout the State, wherever suitable underbrush is found. The 

 Oregon Towhee is the race found on the northern coast, south to San 

 Francisco Bay. The white spots are absent on the back, and in general 

 the white markings are more restricted. On San Clemente Island a 

 form has been recognized, somewhat grayer in tone and with larger bill 

 and feet. 



On the southern coast of California a race has been differentiated as 

 the San Diego Towhee (Pipilo maculatus atratus Ridgw.). 



138. California Towhee; "Bunting"; Pipilo fuscus crissalis 

 (Vig.). 



Length nearly nine inches; tail long. General coloration plain un- 

 streaked brown above and below, darker on the head and lighter on the 

 throat, the latter pale rusty brown, spotted with dusky. Under tail-coverts 

 strongly contrasted reddish brown. A common resident of the valleys 

 and foothills of California. The southern California birds have been 

 set apart as a race form, the San Fernando Towhee (Pipilo fuscus 

 senicula Anthony). 



I 39. Abert's Towhee ; Pipilo aherti Baird. 



A large plain towhee of the eastern desert area, grayish brown above, 

 and pinkish below. Lores and chin blackish. 



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