NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 265 



574a. Sage Sparrow. Amphispiza belli nevadensis. 



Range. Sage deserts of the Great Basin from Oregon and Montana, south to 

 Mexico. 



This sub-species is abundant throughout its range where it nests near 01 on 

 the ground, in or under bushes and generally concealed from view. The nests 

 are made of grass and sage bark lined with fine grass; the eggs are like those of 

 the last species, greenish white, spotted and blotched with shades of brown and 

 purplish. 



574b. Gray Sage Sparrow. Amphispiza belli cinerea. 



Range. A smaller and paler variety found in Lower California. 



The nests and eggs of this pale variety probably do not differ in any respect 

 from those of the better known varieties. 



575. Pine-woods Sparrow, Peuctea sestivalis. 

 Range. Florida and southern Georgia. 



These birds are common in restricted localities in their range, nesting on the 



f round under bushes or shrubs; the nests are made of grasses and the four or 

 ve eggs are pure white with a slight gloss. Size .75 x 60. The birds are said 

 to be fine singers and to frequent, almost exclusively, pine barrens. 



575a. Bachman Sparrow. Peucsea sestivalis bachmanii. 



Range. South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Indiana 

 and Illinois. 



This variety is common in most localities in its range, fre- 

 quenting pine woods and barrens chiefly, and nesting on the 

 ground in May or June. Their nests are made of grasses and 

 lined with very fine grass, and have the tops completely 

 arched over leaving a small entrance on the side. The eggs 

 are pure white with a slight gloss and measure .75 x 60. [White.l 



576. Botteri Sparrow. Peucsea botteri. 



Range. Mexican plateau north to southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. 



They nest in abundance in tall grass in the lowlands of their range, the nests 

 being difficult to find because the bird flushes with great difficulty. The nests 

 are on the ground, made of grass, and the three to five eggs are pure white, 

 measuring .75 x 60. 



578. Cassin Sparrow. Peucsea cassini. 



Range. Plains and valleys from Texas and Arizona north to 

 Kansas and Nevada. 



These birds breed in numbers on the arid plains, placing 

 their grass nests on the ground at the foot of small bushes or 

 concealed in tufts of grass, and during May lay four pure 

 white eegs which are of the same size and indistinguishable 

 [White.] from those of others of the genus. 



579. Rjfous-winged Sparrow. Aimophila carpalis. 

 Range. Plains of western Mexico and north to southern 



Arizona. 



This pale colored bird bears a remote resemblance to the 

 Tree Sparrow. They nest commonly in dry arid regions, plac- 

 ing their nests at low elevations in bushes or cacti, preferably 

 young mesquites, and making them of coarse grass lined 

 with finer. Two broods are raised a season and from May to 

 August sets of four or five plain bluish white eggs may be 

 found. Size .75x 60. 



