Vol ;<£ s XI1 ] Grinnell, Large-billed Sparrow. 1 7 



1890 Belding stated 1 that he had found the species common in 

 winter only, in the Cape region of Lower California, and in the 

 vicinity of San Diego Bay, but although he had searched for it in 

 the latter locality during April and May he had been unable to 

 find it later in the spring than March 10. 



In 1893 Anthony recorded 2 Large-billed Sparrows as very com- 

 mon in fall and winter all along the seacoast of northern Lower 

 California from San Ramon northward. He remarks on their 

 abundance " until the nesting season approaches, when they sud- 

 denly disappear and are not again noticed until August." It is 

 further stated by the same writer that a bird was seen by A. M. 

 Ingersoll at San Diego apparently "carrying food for its young," 

 but no nest could be found. Anthony also records that in April, 

 1887, he "shot a female at San Ramon that had undoubtedly left 

 her eggs but a few moments before." But he subsequently says 

 that in spite of patient search since, he has "never again seen 

 birds during the nesting season," so that the above observations 

 lack confirmation. In the same connection Anthony makes the 

 following remark, with which I have reason to concur. "The 

 eggs of this species which are frequently offered to the public by 

 local collectors of Southern California have, so far as my observa- 

 tions have gone, always been taken from the nests of A. beldingi 

 [= the Belding Marsh Sparrow]." 



In 1898 I recorded 3 the Large-billed Sparrow as "common in 

 winter in the salt marshes and along the beaches " of Los Angeles 

 County, but less numerous than the Belding Marsh Sparrow. 

 "In San Pedro Harbor the birds frequent wharves and break- 

 waters, and even hop fearlessly about the decks of vessels, feed- 

 ing on crumbs and flies. Although observed from August to late 

 in April, this sparrow apparently disappears altogether during the 

 summer months, but where it breeds seems to be as yet un- 

 known." These statements both accord exactly with my knowl- 

 edge at the present day and I have nothing to add. 



In 1899 Price recorded 4 what he called the St. Lucas Large- 



1 Land Bds. Pac. Dist., Sept. 1890, 145. 



2 Zoe, IV, Oct. 1893, 240. 



3 Bds. Pac. Slope Los Angeles Co., March 189S, 36. 



4 Bull. Cooper Orn. Club, Sept. 1899, 92. 



