FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 353 



sandy brown with black shaft streak and black cross bar near tip, the edges 

 gray ; upper tail coverts with transverse, round- 

 ish, or crescentic dusky streaks ; middle tail 

 feathers with indication of transverse bars 

 from median black shaft streak ; edge of wing: - TTT^T" 1 

 yellow, and shoulder tinged with yellow ; under Flg * 44 ' Ca8Sm Spam>W ' 

 parts grayish, tinged with brown on chest and sides. Young : chest and 

 upper parts distinctly streaked. Male : length (skins) 5.15-5.80, wing 2.35- 

 2.65, tail 2.40-2.82, bill .40-.46. Female : length (skins) 5.30-5.80, wing 

 2.40-2.53, tail 2.50-2.75, bill .40-.47. 



Remarks. In the field the sandy brown streaking of the gray upper 

 parts is characteristic. 



Distribution. Breeds in Lower Sonoran zone from Kansas south to 

 Arizona and northern Mexico, and from Texas northwest to Nevada. 



Nest . On ground, in low bushes, or tufts of grass. Eggs : 3 to 5, white 

 or bluish white. 



When going quietly through the stunted bushes that make up a 

 large part of the mesquite plains you often find yourself in the midst 

 of a chorus of Cassin sparrows. Scattered through the bushes around 

 you the little brown choristers one by one spring up several feet 

 above the brush and with heads high and wings outspread in a rap- 

 ture of song give themselves to the air, floating slowly down as 

 they sing. The song is always melodious and pleasing, but at its 

 best has something of the uplift and fine spiritual quality of that of 

 the pine woods sparrow, gaining impressiveness from the abandon 

 with which it is uttered. 



The birds sing in spring and early summer, and through the breed- 

 ing season at least keep it up all day, closing with a blithe sunset 

 concert. 



GENUS AIMOPHILA. 



General Characters. Wing short, much rounded or truncate at tip, 

 primaries exceeding secondaries usually by less than length of bill ; ter- 

 tials not elongated ; tail graduated ; feathers narrow, but with rounded 

 tips ; tarsus longer than middle toe with claw. 



KEY TO SPFXJIES. 



1. Wing with bright rufous patch carpalis, p. 353. 



1'. Wing without bright rufous patch. 

 2. Upper parts mainly gray. In southwestern Texas. 



eremceca, p. 355. 

 2'. Upper parts mainly rufous. 



3. Smaller. In California ruficeps, p. 354. 



3'. Larger. Western Texas to Arizona scottii, p. 354. 



579. Aimophila carpalis (Coues). RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW: 



BENDIRE SPARROW. 



Adults. Wings with conspicuous bright rufous patch ; crown heavily 

 streaked with rufous, mixed with gray, and divided by narrow gray line ; 

 rusty streak behind eye, and two blackish stripes from bill down side of 



