54 



NUimi AMEIUUAN BIRDS. 



Passerelta towmtndi. 



TIad. Pacific coast of Fnitcd States, as far sontli as Sacramento, anrl p'ort Tcjon 7 

 north to Koiliaiv (and rnaiasciilva ?). 



This species difl'ers a yood deal in form i'rom P. iliKcn. Tlio claws are 



much larger and stouter, tlie wing 

 a good deal sliortor and more 

 rounded. Tlie difl'erences in color 

 are very apijreciable, the tints being 

 dark sepia-brown instead of red, 

 and perfectly uniform above, not 

 spotted ; the under parts much 

 more tldckly spotted. 



Specimens from Alaska show a 

 tendency to longer and perhaps 

 more slender bills. Some are 

 rather more rufous-brown than tlie 

 type ; others have a faint tinge of ashy anteriorly, althougli scarcely ap- 

 preciable. This is especially noticeable in some skins from Fort Tejon, 

 they being almost exactly intermediate between townsendi and schistacca, or 

 7ncr/arJii/)ichiis. 



Young birds are not materially different from the adult, except in having 

 the wliite of under parts replaced by pale rusty ; the back is rather duller 

 in color, but without spots or stripes of any kind. 



No. 46,620 from British Columbia has the bill much stouter than in the 

 average. 



It is by no means certain, however probable, that this bird is the K una- 

 lasi'/ikriiftis of Gnielin, an important objection being its absence so far in 

 collections received by tiie Smithsonian Iristitution i'rom that island. We 

 therefore leave the question open for the pre-sent. 



Uaiiits. The history of this western analogue of the Fox-colored Spar- 

 row is still (piite imperfectly known. It was first obtained in Oregon by 

 Mr. Townsend, on the loth of February. He describes it as a very active 

 and a very sliy bird, keeping constantly among the low bushes of worm- 

 wood, and on tlie ground in tlieir vicinity. It was partially gregarious, six 

 or eiglit l)eing usually seen togetlier. Its Ctill-note was a short, shari), quick 

 chirp, and it also had occasionally a low weak warble. 



Dr. (jand)el, ri'ferring prol)ably to its occurrence in winter in California, 

 speaks of tliis bird as an abundant resident in tliat State, wliicli is not cor- 

 rect, it being only a winter visitant, and not abundant south of San Francisco. 

 He describes its habits as very different I'rom those of any other Sparrow, 

 and more like those of a Thrush. It is said to keep in retired Inisliy places, 

 or in underwood, and was scarcely ever seen except on the ground, and then 

 would scarcely ever be discovered but for the noise it made in scratching 

 among the leaves. It was silent and unsuspicious, and he rarely heard it 

 utter even its occasional chirp. 



