316 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



bushes, on slopes of hills, in open spaces under fallen branches. 

 The birds do not rise off the nest as other birds do when disturbed, 

 but run some distance before taking flight. 



Capt. Bendire states that the eggs of Bachman's Sparrow in the 

 National Museum, collected by Dr. Avery, are pure white, but with 

 less gloss than those of P. csstivalis^ more of a dead white. A set of 

 four nearly fresh eggs taken May 8, gives the following sizes : .72 x .56, 

 •75X-55) •72X.55, .71X.55. A set taken June 23, measures .75 x 

 .57, .75X.60, .77 X. 61, .76X.61. * Capt. B. F. Goss has a set of four 

 eggs in his collection, taken by Mr. Wayne. These measure .79 x 

 .63, .75X.63, .75X.63, .75X.63. 



576-577. Peucsea mexicana (Lawr.) 



Mexican Sparrow.t 



Hab. Valley of the Rio Grande in Texas, Southern New Mexico and Arizona, south in winter 

 to Northern, Central and Western Mexico. 



Dr. James C. Merrill, met with this species on the Lower Rio 

 Grande in Texas. He says the bird is found in some abundance on 

 a salt prairie about nine miles from Fort Brown, and it was obtained 

 with difficulty, as it could rarely be flushed from among the tall grass. 

 " A nest, found June 16, 1877, was placed among the roots of a tussock 

 of grass ; it was made of blades and stems of grasses, and was rather 

 deep, but so frail that it fell to pieces on removal. The eggs, four 

 in number, were quite fresh. They are unspotted, white, strongly 

 tinged with greenish-blue, and measure .82X.63." Prof. Ridgway 

 describes the eggs as plain, pure white, size, .72 x .58. 



578. Peucsea cassini (Woodh.) [228.] 



Cassin's Sparro\v> 



Hab. Southwestern border of United States. Texas to Arizona, and Northern Mexico; north in 

 summer to the Plains of Kansas. 



Col. N. S. Goss states that this species is a not uncommon 

 summer resident in Middle and Western Kansas, arriving from the 

 first to the middle of May. Begins laying about the tenth of June. 

 Their favorite resorts and breeding grounds are on the barren plains 

 that are dotted over with low, stunted bushes. Dr. Merrill says Cassin's 

 Sparrow arrives in the region of the Lower Rio Grande in Texas, 

 about the middle of March, and frequents the open chapparal and 

 thick bushes. Nests were found April 28, and May 4 and 22, 1877. 

 They were placed at the foot of small bushes, and scarcely raised 

 above the ground ; were composed of dried grasses, lined with finer 

 ones and a few hairs, but were very frail. Thirteen eggs taken from 



♦ For Capt. Bendire's detailed account of the nest and eggs of Peuccea aestivalis bachmanii see 

 The Auk, October, 1888, pp. 351-356. 



f This includes P. arizonce which, according to Prof. Ridgway, proves to be not separable. 



