362 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



Gate Park, San Francisco, one day gave a good exhibition of their 

 methods. He took a little run forward and then kicked back with 

 both feet, and if there were any diminutive hillocks back of him, 

 leveled them, sending a shower of sand up behind him. Sometimes 

 he used his bill to push a bit of earth aside. After working in this 

 way with artisan-like regularity for some time, he hopped up on a 

 plant label and sat there with his long toes over the edge looking up 

 with winning friendliness. 



The fox sparrows were to be found through the winter not only in 

 Golden Gate Park, but also in the small parks and cemeteries of the 

 city, with the white-crowned and golden-crowned sparrows. But 

 though with the others, PassereMa was not of them, and while the 

 crowned sparrows were in goodly flocks he shoveled alone or possi- 

 bly with a few comrades. When chased by a white-crown he 

 gathered his feathers trimly about him and ran meekly back into the 

 bushes. He was evidently not as used to city life as they, for when 

 he came out in view it was with his red tail perked up, his wings 

 close at his sides, and a conscious air of appearing in public, and at 

 the least alarm he would scud back to cover in nervous haste. 



When at home the thick-billed sparrows live in dense laurel or 

 evergreen thickets, Major Bendire says, but the slate-colored prefers 

 the more open country, living in rose and willow thickets along 

 streams near foothills. 



In the Sierra Nevada one of the loudest and richest of the finch 

 songs that brighten the Transition zone forest can be traced to the 

 thick-billed, perched on top of a bush, his big bill and mixed reddish 

 brown and gray plumage distinguishing him. His song is not of the 

 high grade of the white-crown, but is particularly pleasing on ac- 

 count of its loud, cheery quality. His call-note is a sharp chip. 



585b. P. i. megarhyncha (Baird). THICK-BILLED SPARROW. 



Upper parts plain slaty or brownish gray, becoming rusty on wings, upper 

 tail coverts, and tail ; under parts with chest spots smaller, more scattered ; 

 tail longer than wing, bill thick. Male : length (skins) 6.60- 

 7.20, wing 3.12-3.42, tail 3.02-3.42, bill .4S-.54, depth of bill 

 at base .49-52. Female : length (skins) 6.50-7.56, wing 2.97- 

 3.37, tail 3.02-3.49, bill .45-.53, depth of bill at base .48-.50. 



Remarks. The gray back and the thick bill distinguish 

 Fig. 451. megarhyncha from unalaschcensis, and its larger size and thicker 

 bill from schistacea ; while its smaller bill distinguishes it from stephensi. 



Distribution. Breeds in Transition zone in the Sierra Nevada, both 

 slopes ; migrates to Los Angeles County, California. 



Nest. In evergreens and thickets, usually on or near the ground, made 

 of plant fibers and willow bark, lined with grasses and horsehair. Eggs : 

 3 or 4, markings tending to run longitudinally. 



585c. P. i. schistacea (Baird). SLATE-COLORED SPARROW. 



Like megarhyncha, but smaller body and bill. Male: length (skins) 



