FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 351 



black tail always disappearing in the bushes ahead of the horses as 

 you pass. 



When we were camped on the arid mesa of the Pecos River, 

 among the sounds that were oftenest in our ears were the songs of 

 the mockingbird and nonpareil, the iterant pe-cos' of the scaled quail, 

 and the calls of the verdin and roadrunner, while, mingled with them, 

 always tinkling from the bushes, was the cheery little tune of 

 Amphispiza. Tra-ree' -rah, ree'-rah-ree was one of the commonest of 

 its varied modifications, and it was generally given with a burr like 

 that of the lark sparrow. On all our walks through the thorn brush 

 and climbs over the agave -speared hills we found the lovely little 

 bird everywhere, sitting on top of the bushes singing with head 

 thrown back in fine enjoyment of his bright lay. 



One small father bird, trying to attract us when we were taking 

 notes on the first plumage of his brood, after twittering and calling 

 in vain, flew excitedly to a bush top and fairly burst into song while 

 his mate was trailing over the ground beside us, with the result that 

 the brood grew so unmanageable that they popped out of the nest 

 faster than we could put them back ! 



574. Amphispiza belli (Cass.). BELL SPARROW. 



Adults. Throat bordered with black and white stripes ; breast with 

 black blotch ; rest of under parts white ; orbital ring and spot above 

 lores white ; upper parts brownish gray, grayer on head, usually without 

 distinct streaks; wing- coverts and tertials edged with buffy; edge of wing 

 yellowish ; tail feathers black, indistinctly marked with lighter. Young : 

 upper parts light grayish brown, streaked with black ; under parts buffy, 

 streaked except on throat ; wing with two rather distinct buffy bands. 

 Male : length (skins) 4.90-5.70, wing 2.32-2.79, tail 2.32-2.87, bill .32-.41. 

 Female: length (skins) 5.00-5.60, wing 2.40-2.61, tail 2.30-2.70, bill .31- 

 .39. 



Distribution. From about latitude 38 in valleys and foothills of Cali- 

 fornia, west of the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Mountains, to north- 

 ern Lower California. 



Nest. About 3 feet from the ground, made of grasses and slender 

 weeds, lined partly with hair. Eggs : 4, pale greenish, thickly spotted 

 with reddish brown dots. 



In Los Angeles County, California, Mr. Grinnell finds the Bell 

 sparrow locally common on the brush-covered washes of the mesas, 

 extending up to 50QO feet in summer. 



574a. A. b. nevadensis (Eidgw.). SAGE SPARROW. 



Adults. Sides of throat with a series of narrow blackish streaks, but no 

 continuous stripe ; chest with black spot ; sides and flanks faintly tinged 

 with light brown ; rest of under parts whitish ; upper parts light grayish 

 brown, back usually streaked narrowly but clearly ; outer web of lateral 

 tail feather white. Young : like adults but upper parts and chest streaked, 

 and wings with two buffy bands. Male : length (skins) 5.50-6.20, wing 



