FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 



595 



YoHiifi. Streaked above, the nrown obsoletely, the baek distinctly. Whole Ipi-ciist and 

 sides witli niunerons short (hisky streaks upon a white frround. Markings about the head 

 indistinct, wing-bands more distinct tliaii in tlie a(hdt. 



Hab. Middle Province of United 



States, north to beyond 4(t° (resi- 

 dent). 



The difl'ereiice in size between 

 the race of the Great IJasin and 

 that of the southern Pacilic Prov- 

 ince, of this species, is quite re- 

 markable, being much greater 

 than in any other instance with- 

 in our knowledge. This may, 

 perhaps, be explained by the fact 

 that the former is not migratoiy, ''"""''''" '""'' "•"■ '"^'"• 



but. resident even in the most northern part of its range ; while the Califor- 

 nia one is also resident, and an inhabitant of oidy tlie southern portion of the 

 coast region, not reaching nearly so .far north as the race of the interior. 



The coloration of tlie two races is quite identical, though in all specimens 

 of var. belli the dorsal streaks are obsolete, sometimes even apparently 

 wanting, while in the var. nevadeiisis they are always conspicuous. The 

 former ai>pears to be more brownish above than the latter. 



Habits. These birds, Mr. liidgway states, have a very general distribution, 

 extending as iar west as the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada. At Carson 

 City, February 27, he heard for the first time their sweet sad chant. A week 

 later he found the sage-brush full of tliese birds, the males being in full song 

 and answering one another from .ill directions. Iu»walking throvigli the sage- 

 brush these Sjiarrows wA-e seen on'every side, some running upon the ground 

 with their tails elevated, uttering a chipping twitter, as they sought to conceal 

 themselves behind the shrubs. Some were seen to alight upon the tops of 

 dead stalks, where they sit with their tails expanded almost precisely after 

 the manner of the Kingbird. The song of this bird is feeble, but is unsur- 

 passed for sweetness and sadness of tone. While its effect is very like the 

 song of a Meadow Lark singing afar off, there is, besides its peculiar sad- 

 ness, something quite unique in its modulation and delivery. It is a chant, 

 in style somewhat like the spring warbling of the Shore Lark. 



On the 24th of March, at Carson City, he found these Sparrows very 

 abundant and everywhere the predominating species, as it was also the most 

 inisuspicious and familiar. It was even difficult to keep them from under 

 the feet. A pair would often run before him for a distance of several rods 

 with their unexpandeil tails elevated, and when too nearly approached would 

 only dodge in among the bushes instead of flying off. 



On the 9th of April, walking among the sage-brush near Carson City, j\Ir. 

 Kidgway found several nests of this Span'ow, the female parent in each 



