NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 313 



fledged young were taken March 16 ; also a nest with three fresh eggs. 

 This nest was placed in the cleft of a pine tree, which grew near the 

 edge of a precipice. It was composed of a few pieces of bark-mass, 

 light-colored dry grass blades, and a tail-feather of a petrel, all sur- 

 rounding a quantity of grass, lined within with goat-hair. The three 

 eggs which the nest contained, Mr. Bryant says, were probably the 

 second setting, judging from the ragged appearance of the female, 

 indicating previous cares. Their color is a pale greenish-white, 

 marked with fine dots of reddish-brown clustered around the larger 

 end. They measure 19.5 x 15, 20x15.5, 20 x 16 millimeters.* 



573. Amphispiza bilineata (CASS.) [224.] 



Black-throated Sparrow. 



Hab Southwestern United States Texas to Lower California south into Mexico, north in the 

 interior to Nevada, Utah and western portions of Colorado. 



The Black-throated Sparrow is an inhabitant of the southwestern 

 portion of the United States from Western Texas to the Pacific. Mr. 

 Wm. L,loyd found it breeding in Western Texas, nesting in the cat-claw 

 or chapparal bushes. Nests were found May 6 and 13, June 12, and 

 July 13 containing fresh eggs, indicating that the bird rears at least 

 two broods in a season. Mr. Scott notes this species as a common 

 resident in the foothill region of the Catalinas and also about Tucson, 

 breeding commonly at both points generally at considerable elevation. 

 At an altitude of 4500 feet in the Catalina region the breeding season 

 begins early in March and continues well into the latter part of the 

 summer. The nests he states are built near the ground in some low 

 bush or cactus, and occasionally on the ground. 



The eggs are three to five, three or four being the general com- 

 plement. Mr. Sennett secured several sets of eggs of this species at 

 Lomita, on the Lower Rio Grande, in April. Mr. Davis informs me 

 that he took two sets of the Black- throated Sparrow's eggs in Bast- 

 land county, Texas, in June ; one set was far advanced in incubation, 

 the other on the i4th was fresh. Mr. Norris has a set of four 

 eggs of this species taken April 21, 1888, near Fort Clarke, Texas. 

 The nest was in a bush, eighteen inches from the ground, and was 

 composed of dry grass, lined with wool and horse-hairs. The eggs are 

 plain bluish-white, and measure .71 x .51, .71 x .51, .70 x .50, .70 x .51. 



574, Amphispiza belli (CASS.) [225.] 



Bell's Sparrow. 



Hab. California, south to Cape St. Lucas. 



An abundant bird in all the thickets throughout Southern Cali- 

 fornia. A set of three eggs, in Mr. Norris' cabinet, was taken by A. 



*.77x.59, .79x.61, .79x63. 



