570 NORTH A.MEUICAN BIIIDS. 



over the upijer liiilf of the l(jres, mid in front of tlie oyo, to a line continuous 

 with tlie cutting ed<»e of the bill, iind sends back a slioit lirancli to the eye, 

 which cuts oft' the white superciliary stripe. In fjamhili the superciliary 

 stripe passes continuously forward to the asliy lores, cutting oil' tlui black I' m 

 the eye. The lower edge of the black anteriorly is much higher than in 

 Icucophri/ii, and nearly on a line with the nostrils. 



We cannot give any positive character by which immature specimens of 

 leucophr>/.i and (jumhcli may be distinguished, unless that tlie short dark line 

 from forehead to eye of the former is indicated by a greater amount of dusky 

 at the base of the feathers of that region. 



The young of this species, like that of lniivjiJir//s, is streaked with black- 

 ish on side of the throat, across the breast, and on the sides of body, instead 

 of being entirely unmarked beneath, as in the adult. 



One specimen, collected in the West Humboldt Mountains, connects this 

 form with leucophri/s, and may possibly be a hybrid. In tiiis tliere is a 

 black spot in front of the eye, but sej)arated from the black of the crown by 

 the usual light superciliary stripe ol' f/(imhcli. 



Some specimens from the coast region of California have the ash of head 

 and breast duller, and with a brownish cast, and the spots on the back black 

 instead of deep dark brown. 



Hadits. Tiie Western White-crowned Sparrow is found in great abun- 

 dance, from Mexico to the Arctic Ocean, between the Rocky Mountains and 

 the Pacific. Dr. Suckley found this bird very abundant at Fort Dalles 

 and at I'uget Souiit' at both of which jikces it is a c(uistant summer resi- 

 dent. It was i.lways found in excellent condition. He states that it makes 

 its nest in low bushes, among the stalks of lupins and other shrub-like 

 weeds. Dr. Cooper also mentions that this bird is very abundant in all the 

 prairie districts of Washington Territory, especially where there are low 

 bushes. Unlike most of the Sparrows, it was also common on the coast 

 prairies, where he found it breeding. They arrive at tlie Straits of Fuca at 

 the end of March in large numbers, and leave for the Soutli in October. He 

 afterwards found them at Fort Mohave, in the Colorado Valley, quite com- 

 mon throughout tiie winter, some remaining until the IStli of May, but he 

 does not think that any remain there to liived. They are also abundant, in 

 winter, from San Francisco south, through all the inhabitable country. In 

 summer they are found in the Sierra Nevada, to their summits, and are also 

 plentiful in the regions north of the Columbia. A few remain, during the 

 summer, in the cool district about San Francisco. In June, 1804, Dr. Cooper 

 met witli its nest near the mouth of the Columbia. It was built in a bush, 

 about a foot from the ground, formed of neatly interwoven grasses, and 

 lined with softer materials. He describes its song as loud, but short and 

 melancholy, heard at intervals during the whole year, and frequently at 

 night. 



The Western White-crowned Sparrow was first met with by Mr. Kidgway, 



