1889. ] BENDIRE on the Habits of the Genus Passerella. Tetel 
claret brown, as well as several paler shades approaching lilac 
gray and vinaceous rufous. Of the twelve specimens of this form 
now before me, the largest measures .gS X .70 inch, the smallest 
204 X .62 inch. Average .89 x .65 inch. 
Passerella iliaca megarhyncha (Baird), ‘lHick-BILLED 
SPARROW. 
This peculiar race was first described by the late Prof. S. F. 
Baird in 1858 from specimens obtained by Mr. J. Xantus, near 
Fort Tejon in southern California. The habitat of this form is 
given as the mountains of California, including the eastern slope 
of the Sierra Nevada, to which at least southwestern Oregon 
must now be added, as I found it as a summer resident and breed- 
ing about Fort Klamath, Oregon. Adult and young birds, nests 
and eggs, from that locality, taken by me during the summers of 
1882 and 1883, are to be found in the National Museum collection. 
This bird makes its appearance about Fort Klamath, Oregon, 
during the first week in April, and remains mostly till late in 
October; an occasional straggler may be encountered as late as 
Nov. 10. I think it arrives somewhat later than Townsend’s 
Sparrow in the spring. In its general habits it resembles the 
other forms of this genus, but it is a much better songster than 
either ‘Townsend’s or the Slate-colored Sparrow. Mr. H. W. 
Henshaw, in his paper on this genus referred to previously, says : 
‘**Probably resident wherever found,” but I am quite satisfied that 
it is only a summer resident at Fort Klamath, and that it spends 
the winters southward. It does not seem to-be common about 
there, and from its retiring habits, spending most of its time on 
the ground, in the thick undergrowth along the streams, it is 
difficult to observe it at its ease, and were it not for the noise these 
birds make, by their constant scratching amongst the fallen leaves 
in search of food, their presence would be still harder to ascertain. 
Their nests are placed in various situations, Aa@/mZa thickets, 
service-berry and willow bushes, as well as thick, scrubby ever- 
greens, being preferred. They are always well hidden, and may 
be found from a few inches to six feet from the ground; none 
were found by me directly on the ground. Eggs may be looked 
for about June 12, and as late as July 15. Theusual number laid 
is three or four, and but one brood, I think, is reared in a season. 
A nest found July 13, 1882, near Fort Creek, Klamath Valley, 
