588] 



BIRDS OF OREGON 



BENDIRE (1877) published from Camp Harney the first breeding record 

 for this pale Slate-colored Fox Sparrow. Later the same writer (18890) 

 described the nest and eggs from Grant and Harney Counties and also 

 included Fall River, Deschutes County, a locality in the range ascribed 

 to P. i. julva, which was described much later. Likewise, Shelton's 

 (1917) breeding records for Diamond Peak belong under fulva. Many 

 later records have been published by us and others that outline the breed- 

 ing range as described above. The species arrives in April (earliest date, 

 April 3, Umatilla County) and remains until September (latest date, Sep- 

 tember 15, Harney County). 



This is one of the most musical of Oregon breeding birds, its loud clear 

 song ringing out continually from the brush patches that it loves. There 

 is something haunting about the melody, a quality found elsewhere 

 among our summer resident songsters only in the thrushes. The eggs 

 are laid in June, our three records being June 19, 2.0, and 2.2.. The June 

 2.oth nest, located at Lick Creek Ranger Station by Jewett, contained 

 three slightly incubated eggs. The June zxd nest, found near Anthony, 

 Baker County, by Jewett, contained one egg, and one egg was discovered 

 in the ovary of the female dead on the nest. The June i9th, 1930, record 

 was of a nest built in the sagebrush that contained four eggs. It was 

 found by us while traveling together on the Battle Creek Ranch in 

 extreme southern Malheur County. 



Warner Mountains Fox Sparrow: 



Passerella iliac a fulva Swarth 



DESCRIPTION. Coloration about as in P. i. schistacea but with somewhat larger bill. 

 (Adapted from Swarth.) Si^e: Wing 3.09-3.33, tail 3.06-3.35, bill ,^T > -.^^. Nest 

 and eggs: As in P. i. schistacea. 



FIGURE 19. Distribution of three forms of fox sparrows in Oregon: i, Slate-colored Fox 

 Sparrow (Passerella tliaca schistacea); 2., Warner Mountains Fox Sparrow (P. i. fulva); 

 3, Yosemite Fox Sparrow (P. i. mariposae). 



