278 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. id 



two (lias. 2038, 2039), Dos Palmos, eleven (nos. 2516-2526), 

 Palm Canon, four (nos. 3042-3045). 



Amphispiza belli (Cassin) 

 Bell Sparrow 



Fairly common, mostly in the sagebrush of the Upper Son- 

 oran Zone. The species was first noted at an altitude of about 

 3000 feet as we entered the mountains from the west on the 

 stage road following the course of the San Jacinto River. At 

 Kenworthy, in May and June, it was noticeably abundant and 

 undoubtedly breeding, though we found no nests. Here the 

 birds frequented the denser growth of sagebrush on the floor of 

 the valley. During the first week in June flocks of five or six 

 individuals were occasionally encountered, possibly non-breeding 

 birds, for the majority of the species were in pairs and scat- 

 tered through the brush at fairly regular intervals. The birds 

 forming flocks were silent, usually feeding on the ground, while 

 of the paired birds the male spent a large portion of the time 

 perched upon a projecting limb of a bush, and uttering his song 

 at frequent intervals. 



On the north side of the mountains Bell sparrows were fairly 

 common in the greasewood of the foothills above Cabezon. In 

 ascending the "Hall Grade" at this point, they were first seen 

 at about 2000 feet, and from there on up to Hurley Flat. Also 

 encountered during June at Banning and at Schain's Ranch. 



In the late summer, juvenals were secured at much higher 

 altitudes than those frequented during the nesting season : in 

 Tahquitz Valley (8000 feet), July 25, 28, 29, and in Round 

 Valley (9000 feet), August 2. Abundant at Hemet Lake during 

 August, and at Vallevista, at the western base of the mountains, 

 August 29 to September 5. At the latter point they were gath- 

 ered in flocks. 



Adults taken at Schain's Ranch the latter part of June are 

 in the midst of the annual molt, while some collected at Hemet 

 Lake, August 11, have nearly finished it. Full-grown juvenals 

 were secured the last week in June, and others not yet molting 

 from the juvenal plumage, as late as August 6. 



