406 Wetmore, Birds of Lake Burford, N. Mex. [j^ y 



70. Zonotrichia leucophrys (J. R. Forster). White-crowned Spar- 

 row. — These sparrows appeared in migration in the bushes near the lake 

 on May 28 and remained until June 4. During this period they were 

 fairly common in growths of Amelanchier and Ribes and were also found 

 in the sagebrush. 



71. Spizella passerina arizonae Coues. Western Chipping Spar- 

 row. — The Chipping Sparrow was fairly common in junipers near the 

 lake shore and was found also among the pines covering the hills back 

 from the lake. 



72. Spizella breweri Cassin. Brewer's Sparrow. — The Brewer's 

 Sparrow was one of the most common breeding birds in the extensive 

 sage grown areas surrounding the lake. The birds were seen constantly 

 and males sang daily about the camp. A nest found June 4, placed in 

 a fork in a sage 14 inches from the ground, was a small compact cup of 

 grasses and weedstems, firmly woven externally, and lined with horsehair 

 and bits of fine grass. The three eggs were clear pale green in color, 

 spotted with brown. On June 12 a nest containing two newly hatched 

 young was seen, and the following day another containing three eggs was 

 found. A nest examined June 15 contained four eggs that were apparently 

 fresh, two found June 16 contained two and three eggs respectively, and 

 one seen June 17 contained 3 newly hatched young. All were similar 

 in form and location to the one first described. 



The birds themselves were quiet and unobtrusive merely flying up to 

 lookout points on the tips of sage or hiding in the thick growth when 

 disturbed. The song of the male with its shifting repetition of notes 

 reminded me of a vocalist practising scales. 



73. Amphispiza nevadensis nevadensis (Ridgway). Sage Spar- 

 row. — Locally distributed and breeding in the sage grown areas. A 

 breeding female was taken May 30 and other sage sparrows were seen on 

 June 4 and 6. 



74. Melospiza melodia montana (Henshaw). Mountain Song 

 Sparrow. — The Song Sparrow in the main inhabited the fringing clumps 

 and growths of dead tules (Scirpus occidentalis) remaining from last year, 

 venturing up into the sage brush to feed, or occasionally to nest. In the 

 dead tules the birds made a great rustling in creeping about so that I 

 looked continually for larger birds, when I heard them. A nest found 

 May 28 was placed on the ground in a slight hollow at the foot of a sage 

 about 30 feet above the border of the rushes. It was a slight cup of 

 grasses lined with hair from horses' tails and contained four eggs. I 

 judged from their actions, however, that most of the birds were nesting 

 in the more secure shelter of the tules. A female was seen carrying ex- 

 crement from a nest on June 1, and June 4 young were heard calling. 

 After this date young became common. 



75. Pipilo maculatus montanus Swarth. Mountain Towhee. — 

 This Towhee was common on the slopes and in the gulches above the lake, 



