FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 367 



and tail perked up ; guarding his family with watchful care, and 

 between times, as at all times, singing his glad little lay. 



581a. M. m. fallax (Baird). DESERT SONG SPARROW. 



General color light rufous ; upper parts light gray, streaked on back with 

 rusty, usually without blackish shaft streaks ; 

 streaks on chest clear rusty or rufous. Young : 

 dull brown or buffy above, back streaked with 

 brown ; buffy white below, chest streaked. 

 Male: length (skins) 5.36-6.12, wing 2.56- Fig. 444. 



2.71, tail 2.59-2.81, bill .44-.50. Female : length (skins) 5.10-5.82, wing 

 2.47-2.62, tail 2.39-2.78, bill .45-.4S. 



Remarks. The light color and rusty streaking distinguish this from 

 all other song sparrows. 



Distribution. Breeds in Lower Sonoran zone from southern Nevada 

 and southeastern California to Lower California and Sonora, Mexico. 



Nest. In tufts of grass, low bushes, or on the ground. Eggs : 4, light 

 greenish or duU bluish white, more or less spotted with brown. 



581b. M. m. montana Hensh. MOUNTAIN SONG SPARROW. 



Upper parts grayish streaked with black and brown; wings and tail 

 brown ; under parts white, chest and sides 

 streaked with brown, streaks more or less 

 confluent on breast. Male : length (skins) 

 5.58-6.49, wing 2.58-2.91, tail 2.50-3.02, bill 

 .44-.5S. Female: length (skins) 5.35-6.34, Fig. 445. 



wing 2.46-2.75, tail 2.46-2.86, bill .41-.50. 



Remarks. Montana is like melodia, but wings, tail, and tarsus average 

 longer, bill smaller and relatively more slender ; coloration grayer ; the 

 young paler, whitish instead of buffy below, less tawny above than hi 

 young of melodia. 



Distribution. Breeds in Transition zone in the Rocky Mountain and 

 Sierra Nevada region of the United States ; migrates to western Texas 

 and northern Mexico. 



581c. M. m. heermanni Baird. HEERMANN SONG SPARROW. 1 



Ground color brown or olive, streaked both above and below with blackish ; 

 spots on chest distinct instead of massed in a pectoral blotch. Male : length 

 (skins) 5.10-6.31, wing 2.42-2.80, tail 2.35-2.79, bill .4S-.53. Female: 

 length (skins) 5.46-5.64, wing 2.40-2.51, tail 2.25-2.58, bill .48-.50. 



Remarks. The seasonal changes in plumage are marked, the summer 

 birds being much more sharply and narrowly streaked than winter ones. 

 Heermanni is like melodia, but smaller and browner, streaks on back 

 averaging broader, those on chest darker ; young like that of melodia, but 

 deeper tawny above, streaks broader ; under parts tinged with brownish 

 buff, chest streaks broader. 



Distribution. Breeds in Lower Sonoran zone in central valleys of Cali- 

 fornia ; migrates southward ; casually to Nevada. 



i Melospizafasciata cooperi Ridgw. SAN DIEGO SONG SPABBOW. 



Like heermanni, but slightly smaller and much lighter and grayer. 



Distribution.- Southern coast district of California (north to Monterey Bay, east to 

 Fort Tejon, San Bernardino, etc.), and Pacific coast of northern Lower California. (The 

 Auk, xvi. 35.) 



