21 I Univt rsity of California Publications in Zoology I Vol. 10 



They were particularly numerous in Hemel Valley, where the 

 characteristic song of the male bird was to be heard on all sides. 

 from Kenworthy to Vandeventer Plat, and beyond as far as 

 Omstotl ('reck and the lower parts of Santa Rosa Mountain. As 

 a rule they frequented the chaparral-covered hills, rather than 

 the sage-brush of the valley, but were found in the latter also 

 where the growth was particularly dense, as between Vande- 

 venter Hat and Santa Rosa Mountain. 



On the northern slopes of the range, in Ma\ and .lime, many 

 were seen at ('alie/.nii. Banning and Schain's Ranch; as small 

 juvenals were taken they were evidently nesting at these points. 



Two nests were found, one at Kenworthy, .May 21, the other 

 between Vandeventer Klat and Santa Rosa Mountain, dime 25. 

 The two. very similar in construction, were both in sagebrush 

 ahont two feel from the ground, well concealed, ami discovered 

 only by the sudden flight of the female. The lirst contained four 

 eggs, far incubated; the second, three eggs, one infertile, the 

 others incubated. Of the first found, the nest and broken egg 

 shells were saved (no. 78); the second nest was preserved with 

 the eggs intact i no. 73). The shells of no. 78 are clear nile blue 

 without a trace of maculation ; those of mi. 73 are nile blue with 

 sparse dotting of sepia, cinnamon, and fawn color, these mark- 

 ings being agglomerated around the large ends of the eggs. The 

 latter set measures in millimeters: lT.UxU.:;. 17.8x14.2, 17.(1 x 

 14.1. 



The parent birds were extremely shy, the male singing at a 

 safe distance, t he female hovering ahont uttering excited "chips."' 

 but not permitting a near approach. 



During .May and dime the male birds littered their brief song 

 at frequenl intervals throughoul the day. The song of the black- 

 chinned sparrow is absolutely distinct from that of any other 

 bird of southern California. A description may he attempted as 

 follows: The male bird selects the lip of the tallest shnih in 

 the chaparral in the vicinity of its nest. This perch is seldom 

 more than six feet above the ground, usually on the rising slope 

 above the nest. In one instance a singing bird was at the lip 

 of a scrub oak at least fifteen feet above the ground; in another 

 a male was observed at the extreme top of a dead pine, ahont 



