SOXG SFAFROWS -169 



Occurrence. — Winter visitant in small to moderate numbers at various places on west 

 slope of Sierra Nevada below 4500 feet altitude. Also present during summer season 

 locally east of the mountains, around Mono Lake; in fall stragglers reach to 9000 feet 

 on east slopc.29 Inhabits bushes and thickets nearly always close to water or over damp 

 ground. Solitary except when pairs are engaged in nesting. 



The Song Sparrow is not so conspicuous a member of the avifauna in 

 the Yosemite section as it is in many other parts of North America. In 

 summer, it is present only east of the mountains, while in winter, when 

 some representatives of the species do occur on the west side of the Sierra 

 Nevada, its numbers are never large, as compared for instance with those 

 in the coastal region of California. This deficiency is due perhaps to the 

 relative dearth of suitable stream-side cover. 



Both summer and winter the Modoc Song Sparrow {Melospiza melodia 

 fisherella) is the most abundant of the several subspecies of song sparrow 

 occurring in the Yosemite region. Ea.st of the mountains, in the spring 

 of 1916, it was found near Williams Butte as early as April 29, and in 

 the fall of 1915 it was still present on September 20. It probably leaves 

 the east side of the mountains during the winter months, though it doubt- 

 less returns there as soon as weather conditions permit. In Yosemite 

 Valley, our earliest fall record for song sparrows was made on October 10 

 (1914), when two were noted in some willows. A bird captured there on 

 October 28 (1915), proved to be the Modoc Song Sparrow. Subsequently, 

 Mr. Joseph Mailliard (1918, p. 17) took one of these birds on September 27 

 (1917). None was seen by us at any station on the west side of the 

 mountains higher than the floor of Yosemite Valley. In November and 

 December, a few of this race were found along the Merced River at El 

 Portal and Pleasant Valley ; and it was fairty common at Snelling and 

 Lagrange. 



The song sparrow resembles in general appearance the Lincoln sparrow 

 which occurs in one part or another of the Yosemite region throughout 

 the year. The song sparrow is of larger size and stouter build, has no 

 buff}' band across its breast, and the streaks on the breast are heaA-ier. In 



September 13, 1915, and at Warren Fork of Leevining Creek, September 25, 1915. Also 

 occurs on the west slope, but only in winter, being then found from Yosemite Vallej' 

 westward to Snelling and Lagrange. This is the commonest subspecies in the region. 



EusTY Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia rnfina (Bonaparte), a reddish brown 

 colored form which summers in the coastal district of northwest America from south- 

 eastern Alaska to Washington, was taken at Snelling, Januarv 6, 1915, and at Smith 

 Creek, east of Coulterville, March 3, 1917, and November 26, 1918. 



Heermann Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia heermanni Baird, a large billed sub- 

 species with black streaking on a pale ground, which nests in the San Joaquin Valley, 

 was found at Snelling, January 2, 1915, and at Lagrange, December 10, 1915. It is 

 possible that this race nests within our limits, although we found no song sparrow at 

 Snelling or Lagrange in May. 



Merrill Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia merrilli Brewster, a large, brownish form, 

 yet paler than rnfina, summering in the northern interior states between the Cascade 

 and Eocky mountains, was found once, in winter, at Snelling, January 7, 1915. 



