594 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



depeiidinju; upon what they obtain from dews or fogs. They reside all the 

 year in the same localities, and were also numerous on the island of San 

 Nicolas, eiglity miles from the mainhmd. In spring the males utter, as Dr. 

 Cooper says, a low monotonous ditty, from the top of some favorite shrub, 

 answering each other from long distances. Their nest he found about tlnee 

 feet from tlie ground, composed of grasses and slender weeds, lined with 

 hair and other substances. The eggs, four in nund)er, lie describes as }>ale 

 greenish, thickly sprinkled over with reddish-brown dots. At San Diego he 

 found the young hatclied out by May 18, but thinks they are sometimes 

 earlier. It is also a common bird in the chaparral of Santa Clara Valley, 

 and also, according to Dr. Heermann, along the Cosumnes lliver. 



In Arizona, according to Dr. Coues, it is rather uncommon about Fort 

 Whipple, owing to the unsuitable nature of the locality, but is abundant 

 among tlie sage-brush of the Gila Valley, wdiere it keeps much on the 

 giound, and where its movements are very much like those of a Pipilo. 



Dre. Kennerly and Mollliausen met witli these Sparrows on the Little 

 Colorado Iliver, in California, December 15. They w^ere found during that 

 month along the banks of the river wherever the weeds and bushes were 

 thick. It was never observed very far from the water, and its food, at that 

 season, seemed to consist of the seeds of various kinds of weeds. Its 

 motions were quick, and, when started up, its flight was short, rapid, and 

 near the earth. 



Dr. Heermann states that in the fall of 1851 he found this species in the 

 mountains bordering the Cosumnes River, and afterwards on the broad tract 

 of arid land between Kerr Kiver and the Tejon Pass, and again on the desert 

 between that and the Mohave Eiver. He often found them wandering to a 

 great distance from water. With only a few exceptions, these were the only 

 bii;ds inhabiting tlie desj^'nle plains, ^li^re the arten^^sia is the almost exclu- 

 sive vegetation. When undisturbed, it chants merrily from some bush-top, 

 but, at the approach of danger, drops at once to the ground and disappears 

 in the shrubbery or weeds. Its nest he found built in a bush, composed of 

 twigs and grasses, and lined with hair. The eggs, four in number, he 

 describes as of a light greenish-blue, marked \vith reddish-purple spots, dif- 

 fering in intensity of shade. • 



Foospiza belli, var. nevadensis, Ripgway. 



ASTEHISIA SFABROW. 



Poospiza belli, var. nevadensis, Ridgway, Report on Birds of 40th Parallel. 



Sp. Char. Resembling P. belli, but purer ashy above, with the dors.il streaks very 

 distinct, instead of almost oV)solete. Wing, 3.20 (instead of 2.50) ; tail, 3.20 (instead of 

 2.50) ; bill (from forehead), .35 ; tarsus, .70. (Type, No. 53,516 ^, Western Humboldt 

 Mountains, Xev., United States Geol. Exj>l. 40th Par.) 



