132 THE GOLDEN-CROWNED SI^ROW. 



I110I1V in llic aritniisia. while I'rcwer's tils into tlic sninluT, Ijniwii-and-strfaky 

 sclienic (>l its twigs anil i)ranciies. To carry (Hit tlie c<>ni|)arisi)n. do not look 

 for biYZi't^ri early in the season, when the breath of the rain rises from the 

 ground and the air is astir: he is there, of course, hut clisregard him. Wait, 

 ratiier, until the season is ad\anced. when the inotmijarahle sun of \'akima 

 lias tilled tiie sage-hrush full to overflowing, and it begins to ooze out heat 

 in drowsv. indolent waves. Then listen: U'i.wc::c, tuhiliibituhiliihiluh. tiie 

 tirst part an inspired trill, and the remainder an c.\(|uisitely modulated ex- 

 pirated trill in descending cadence, instantly one conceives a great res]x*ct 

 for this plain dot in feathers, whose very existence may have passed unnoticed 

 l»eforc. The descending strain of the common song has. in some individuals, 

 all the line shading heard in certain imixirted canaries. Pitch is conceded 

 bv intinitesimal gradations, whereby the singer, from some heaven of fancy, 

 brings us down gently to a topmost twig of earthly attainment. \or does 

 the song in other forms lack variety. In fact, a midday dn'rus of I'.rewer 

 Si)arrows is a treat which makes a trani]) in the sage memorable. 



Brewer's Sjjarrow is of the sage sagey. and its range in Washington is 

 almost exactiv co-cxtcnsive with the distribution of that <loughty shrub; but it 

 is of record tliat Sl^ici-lhi bii~:\.ni indulges in some romantic vacations, a S|icci- 

 mcn l)eing once taken by me (July j;. 1900) at 8000 feet. ui>on the glacier 

 levels of Wright's Peak. 



No. 52. 

 GOLDKN-CROWNKI) SI'ARRoW. 



A. O. IJ. \o. 357. Zonotrichia coronata (Pall. 1. 



Description. — Adults: .\ bruad crown stripe ganibogc-ycllr>w. changing 

 abruptly to a^liv gray on occi])Ut ; this iKiumled on each side by broad stripe of 

 silkv black meeting fellow on forehea<l : remaining uppcrp.irts grayish brown, 

 broadly streaked with black on back, more or less edged with ilull chestnut on 

 back, wing-coverts and tcrtials. glossed with olive on nnnp and tail : niid<lle and 

 greater coverts tipped with white forming consjucuous bars: chin, throat and 

 sides of head ashy gray with obscure vermicnialions of dusky: remaining undcr- 

 parts washed with bnlTy brown, darkest on sides and flanks, lightest, to dull 

 white, on belly, obsolctcfy and tincly barred on breast. I'.ill blackish above, ]>aler 

 below: feet pale; iris brown, fiiiiiuiliirr: Without detinitc head-stripe; crown 

 broadly dull olive- vcllow. clearest on forehead, elsewhere sharply flecked with 

 blackish in wedge-shaped marks, giving way to grayish brown or dull chestnut 

 behind and to blackish on sides {variably according to age?). Length 7.20 

 ( i82.K^ ; wing 3.28 (8.V3) ; tail 3.06 i//./) : bill .4'*^ (12.2); tarsus .96 (24.31. 



RecoKnition Marks. — Sparrow size; yellow of crown distinctive in any 

 plumage. 



Nestinj;. — Does not breed in Washington. Xesl and eggs said to be very 

 similar to those of Z. I. iiuttalli. 



