Paseo 
WITH BROWN PREDOMINATING 231 
of the little brood, the adult will flit restlessly about for 
an hour with a’ bug in his bill, which he himself abso- 
lutely refuses to eat. Finally he compromises by alight- 
ing in the grass at some distance from the nest, and 
running under coyer to the bush where it is located. 
This species has the red bill of the field sparrow and 
is said to resemble it in song. 
567c. THURBER JUNCO, OR SIERRA JUNCO. 
Junco hyemalis thurberi. 
Famity: The Finches, Sparrows, ete. 
Length: 5.60-6.20. 
Adults: Similar to the Oregon junco, but wings and tail longer; head, 
throat, and breast black, sharply defined against light brown of back 
and white of under parts ; sides buffy. 
Young: Similar to the young of the Oregon junco, only upper parts 
lighter. 
Geographical Distribution: Sierra Nevada, the desert, and the southern 
coast ranges of California from Oregon to latitude 32°. 
California Breeding Range: Transition and Boreal zones along the whole 
length of the Sierra Nevada. 
Breeding Season: Apmril to July 23. 
Jest: Of dry grasses and bits of moss; lined with finer materials of the 
same ; placed on the ground, usually under a bush. 
Eggs: 4 or 5,; bluish white, spotted with chestnut, red, and lavender, 
forming a ring around the larger end ; a few spots scattered over the 
smaller end. Size 0.71 X 0.58. 
BeEForE the snows had left the sides of Mt. Tallac, I 
found a nest of the Thurber Junco among the pines at 
its foot. Hidden snugly under the edge of a log and 
close by a clump of scarlet snowflower, it might have 
been secure from all detection had not the calls of the 
parents attracted my eager prying eyes. When I peeped 
in, the four nestlings were cuddled down on a bed of 
red-brown pine needles, so exactly matching their own 
