BLACK-THROATED SPARROW. 



573. Amphispiza bilineata. 5^ inches. 



These little Sparrows are entirely unlike any other 

 North American species. They are found in the south- 

 western deserts, where they are not uncommon in cer- 

 tain localities, being found in mesquite or chapparal 

 brush. While not especially wild, the birds appear to 

 be very restless and do not remain on the same branch 

 but a few minutes at a time. 



Note. An ordinary Sparrow chip; song, a rich me- 

 tallic zip-zip-zip-zee-zee-zee, the first three ascending, 

 the second three notes descending. 



Nest. In bushes or cacti at low elevations; eggs 

 plain bluish white (.70x.50). 



Range. From Texas north to Kansas in summer. A 

 paler sub-species, the Desert Sparrow (deserticola), is 

 found westward to southern California. 



