FiJ::(iILLID.K — THK l'IX( IIKSS. 2-) 



jrrayish east, iiu-luilin.ir the whole snperrihary stripe. The streaks on throat and jii'^Mihmi 

 in sjvriiijr are ahiiost bhick. as in ntrfodia ; in aiituiMn more rul'ous; in all eases (piite as 

 sharply «h.'lineil :is in melodin. The hill is nearly hlack in si>ring. 

 Il.vi!. Middle Province of United Stales, to the Sierra Nevatb. 



This race, intcvniodiato iK'twceii miloiUa and Jurrmaani in lia1»itat, is, 

 liowL'Vt'r, liaidly so in (.'haiJic'tiTs. Tlie Mil is nmry sl<M!<k*r than in fitliL-r, 

 bfini^ nnich like that of ynttufu, and the tail is longer in proportion to the 

 w'wv^. In colors it is paler than either, the «iround-cast above being nearly 

 clear grayish : the streaks, l)oth on the back and jugnlum, are more sparse, 

 as well as narrower; very iretpiently, in the winter plumage, those beneath 

 lack the ctnitral black, being wholly rufous; such is the case with the type. 

 In summer, however, they are fre<piently entirely black, the external rufous 

 having entirely disappeared. As in /icmnanni, the rum]) is immaculate. 

 The young bird differs as does the adult, though the resembhmce to those of 

 itu/odta and luernwnni is more ch)se than in the adult. The very narrow 

 bill and long tail are the most characteristic features of form. 



Habits. In habits and song, Dr. Cooper can find no appreciable ditfer- 

 ences between this variety and its nearest allies. He states that its nest, 

 which he found in a willow thicket, was comjujsed of bark and fine twigs 

 and <:rass, and lined with hair. Its e^gs he describes as bluish-white, Idotched 

 and streaked with redu sh-brown, and as measuring .74 by .55 of an inch. 



Dr. Coues found this species a common and permanent resident in Ari- 

 zona, and he pronounces its habits, manners, and voice i)recisely like tlio.se 

 of M. )iufodia. This species, he states, occurs throughout Xew Mexico, 

 Arizona, and a ]>art of Southern California, and is particularly abundant in 

 the valley of the Coh^rado. 



Dr. Kennerly observed this species only along Pueblo Creek, in the month 

 of January. It did not confine itself to the oj)en valley, but was often 

 seen among the thick bushes that margined the creek, far up into the Aztec 

 Mountains, where the snow covered the ground. In its habits it resembled 

 the Poospiza hel/i, being very restless and rajdd in its motions, accompany- 

 ing them with a short chirp, feeding upon the seeds of the weeds that 

 remained uncovered by the snow. Its flight was also rai)id and near the 

 earth. The bird being very shy, Dr. Kennerly found it difticult to procure 

 many specimens. 



According to Mr. Eidgway, the Western Song Sparrow is one of the 

 most abundant of the resident species inhabiting the fertile portions of the 

 Great Basin. It principally occupies the willows along the streams, but is 

 also found in tide sloughs of the river valleys. From a long ac(|uaintance 

 with the Western Song Sparrows, Mr. Kidgway is fully convinced of the pro- 

 priety of recognizing this as a distinct variety from the eastern J/, mclodta. 

 In all respects, as to habits, esjiecially in its familiarity, it replaces at the 

 West the well-known Song Sparrow of the East. When first heard, the 

 ]>eculiar measure and delivery of its song at once attracts attention. The 



