1 6 Grinnell, Large-billed Sparrow. Iran 1 



WHERE DOES THE LARGE-BILLED SPARROW 

 SPEND THE SUMMER? 



BY JOSEPH GRINNELL. 



Strange as it may seem, there is a land bird of California 

 which abounds at times in suitable places but whose nesting 

 grounds appear to be entirely unknown. This species, our only 

 land bird yet remaining thus distinguished, is the Large-billed 

 Sparrow {Passerculns rostratus). A bird of such unusual interest 

 warrants particular attention. It is the object of my present arti- 

 cle to show how little we really know about it, in the hope that 

 some one may soon come forward with additional and definite 

 information. 



The bird was originally described 1 by Cassin in 1852 from 

 specimens taken at San Diego. In 1859 Heermann recorded' 2 it 

 from San Pedro and Santa Barbara, as well as San Diego. 

 Cooper in 1870s added Cape St. Lucas to its list of record sta- 

 tions, and also presented some information in regard to its occur- 

 rence at San Pedro. This information, quoted far and wide to 

 the present day, is to the effect that Passerculus rostratus was 

 found breeding. But that there must have been some error seems 

 now to be more than likely. The evidence for my belief in this 

 respect is presented further on. 



In 1883 Belding recorded 4 the species as found in winter at 

 several localities in the Cape region of Lower California; also in 

 December and April at Guaymas, Sonora, across the Gulf from 

 Lower California. In 1885 Brewster recorded 5 two specimens 

 taken by Stephens at Port [= Cape] Lobos, on the Mexican shore 

 of the Gulf of California just south of the 30th parallel. These 

 were taken on August 20, 18S4, on a gravelly beach with no 

 marshes near (as Mr. Stephens has recently informed me). In 



1 Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Phila., Oct. 1852, 184. 



2 Pac. R.R. Rep., X, 1859, 46. 



3 Orn. Cal., I, 1S70, 184. 



4 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., V, March, 1SS3, 537 ; VI, 1883, 343 

 3 Auk, II, April 1885, 198. 



