It 



I 



J4 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



and occasiniiriUy clsowliore on the sides, have hrownish shafts, not found in 

 tlie other. The dillirences are |»erhai)s those of iiiee, rather tlian of speeies, 

 tliouuli they are very apprecialde. 



If Ai'.ns. This s}>ecies hears a very close resemhlance to tlie X pallida m 

 its external appearance, but tliere are certain constant differences wliich, \vitli 

 the peculiarities of tlieir distinctive distributions and ha])its, seem to estal)- 

 lish their specific separation. The present bird is found from the Pacific 

 coast to the Kocky Mountains, and from the northern portion of ( 'alifornia 

 to the Iiio Grande and Mexico. Dr. Kennerly found it in Fefnuary, l(Sr)4, 

 throughout New ^fexico, from the Ilio Grande to tlie CJreat Colorado, along 

 the different streams, where it was feeding upon the seeds of several kinds 

 of weeds. 



Dr. Heermann, wldle accompanying the surveying ]»arty of Lieutenant 

 Williamson, between the '^'lA and ootli parallels, found these Sparrows 

 throughout liis entire route, both in California and in Texas. On the pas- 

 sage from the Pimos villages to Tucson he observed large flocks gleaning 

 their food among tlie bushes as they were moving southward. In the Tejon 

 valley, during the fall season, he was constantly meeting them associated 

 with large HcK'ks of otlier species of Sparrows, congregated around the cul- 

 tivated fields of the Indians, wliere they find a bountiful supply of seeds. 

 Por this })iirp()se they pass the greater part of the time upon the ground. 



Dr. Woodliouse also met with this Sparrow tliroughout New Mexico, 

 wherever food and water were to be found iu sufficient (Quantity to sustain 

 life. 



In Arizona, near Fort Whipple, Dr. Coues states that this bird is a rare 

 summer resident. He characterizes it as a shy, retiring species, keeping 

 mostly in thick brush near the ground. 



Mr. liidgway states that he found this interesting little Sparrow, while 

 abundant in all fertile portions, almost exclusively an inhabitant of open 

 I situations, such as fields or busliy plains, among the artemesia esi)ecially, 



wliere it is most numerous. It frequents alike the valleys and the moun- 

 ^ tains. At Sacramento it was the most abundant Sparrow, frecpienting the 



old fields. In this respect it very much resembles the eastern Spizdla 

 pnsillff, from which, however, it is in many respects very different. 



The song of Ihewer's Sparrow, he adds, for sprightliness and vivacity is 

 not excelled by any other of the North American Fringillidie, being inferior 

 only to that of the Chondestes (frammain in power and richness, and even 

 excelling it in variety and compass. Its song, while possessing all the plain- 

 tiveness of tone so characteristic of the eastern Field Sparrow, unites to this 

 quality a vivacity and variety fully equalling that of the finest Canary. 

 This species is not resident, but arrives about the yth of April. He found 

 its nest and eggs in the Truckee Ileservation, early in June. The nests 

 were in sage-bushes about three feet from the gi'ound. 



Dr. Cooper found smaU flocks of this sjiecies at Fort Mohave, after March 



