FllINUILLIU.K — THK FINCllK;^. 23 



fjrnyish past, iiicltidinif the whole snpi'rr'ili.-ii'y stripi'. Tho streaks on tlimat anil JiiLriilnni 

 ill spriiii; un- iiliiinst lilat'k, as in inilixiid ; in aiitniiin more riil'uiis; in all (;a.si.;.s (juito as 

 sharply (Iclincil as in mfhdin. Tho hill is ncafly hlack in spring'. 

 ll.vii. Middli' ]'n)vini:(' of United Stales, to thi" Sioi-ra Nevada. 



This nice, intcriiioiliiito iH'twcen iiu'loiUn and Jirrntuijuii in Imljitat, is, 

 lioweviT, liardly so in cliaiiiclcrs. Tlio bill is iiniru .slender tliiin in oitlicr, 

 licino nuudi like that of ijvltntu, and tiio tail is longer in proportion to the 

 wing. In cokms it is paler than either, the o;ronnd-ca.st above being nearly 

 eleiir grayish : the streaks, l)oth on the back and jugiihun, are more sparse, 

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

 lack the central bltick, being wholly rufous ; such is the ease with the type. 

 In summer, however, they are frecpiently entirely black, the external rufous 

 having entirely di.sappeared. As in liccrnutnni, the rumj) is immaculate. 

 The young bird dilfers as does the adult, though the resemliLince to those of 

 vulodia and hcermanni is more ch).se than in the adult. The very narrow 

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



ILviilTs. In habits and song, Dr. Cooper can find no apiireciable dill'er- 

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

 which he found in a willow thicket, was eom])osed of bark and fine twigs 

 and grass, and lined with hiur. Its eggs he describes as bluish-white, blotched 

 and streaked with reddish-brown, aiul as measuring .74 by .55 of an inch. 



])r. Cones found this species a common and permanent resident in iVri- 

 zona, and he pronounces its habits, manners, and voice precisely like those 

 of M. inchnlia. This spetnes, he states, occtirs throughout New Mexico, 

 Arizona, and a |)art of .Southern California, and is particnliirly tibundant in 

 the valley oi' the Colorado. 



Dr. Kennerly observed this species only along I'ueblo Creek, in the month 

 of January. It did not confine itself to the open valley, but was oit(!n 

 seen among the thick l)ushes thiit margined the creek, far up into the Aztec 

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

 the Foosjiiza helli, being very restless and rajiid in its motions, accompany- 

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

 remained uncovered by the snow. Its llight was also rajiid and near the 

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

 many specimens. 



According to ]\lr. Jiidgway, the Western Song Sparrow is one of the 

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

 Great l>asin. It ])rincipally occupies the willows along the stretims, but is 

 also found in tul4 sloughs of the river valleys. From a long actpiaintanco 

 with the Western Song Sparrows, Mr. liiilgway is fully conviiu^ed of the i)ro- 

 priety of recognizing this as a distinct vtiriety from the eastern M. vulodia. 

 In all respects, as to habits, es])eeially in its familiarity, it replaces at the 

 West the well-known Song Sparrow of the J^ast. When first heard, the 

 peculiar measure and delivery of its song at once attracts attention. The 



