288 ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



habits. Besides which, as remarked by Mr. Ridgway, the variety just noted, 

 which is unquestionably referable to the P. aestivalis, as its western form, 

 is found in the same region. I had excellent opportunities for noting the 

 great dissimilarity in habits of the two. 



Cassin's Sparrow was found by us in Southeastern Arizona, from a 

 point a little north of the Gila River to near the southern border, being- 

 distributed evenly over this region, and found very numerous in all localities 

 suited to its nature. The contrast in the character of the places where it was 

 met with by us was very great. Thus, in traveling over the desolate plateau 

 region, on nearing the Gila Valley this species was found frequenting the 

 barren hill sides, where nothing but the cacti and the most hardy vegetation 

 could maintain a foothold, and where the fierce heat of the sun's rays beat 

 down iqoon the sandy ground. Here, however, this sparrow was found in 

 numbers ; and, mingled with the sweet strains of the Mockingbirds, and the 

 1 nimbler efforts of the Black-throated Buntings, was heard the continual 

 melody of these little songsters. They sent forth the strains from the tops 

 of the bushes, and again from mid-air ; then, with quivering wings and 

 outstretched legs, they re-alighted upon low bushes, whence they had taken 

 their flight the moment before, the better perhaps to be heard by their mates. 

 From this locality, as we moved southward, they were hardly lost sight of 

 for three weeks. 



On nearing Camp Grant, at Eureka Spring, I found a little meadowy 

 tract, which was the home selected by a large colony of them, and where 

 they had probably nested some time before, or possibly still had nests. 

 Mingled with them were both old and young of the Yellow-winged Sparrow. 

 In the early morning, the songs of half a dozen males could be heard in the 

 air, at first distinctly, then blended and lost in the general medley. The 

 song is very plaintive, but quite pretty and attractive ; it is usually uttered 

 when the bird, having ascended to perhaps the height of twenty feet, begins 

 slowly to descend ; and it terminates just as the bird alights. I have often 

 remarked the nicety with which the little singer graduated the distance to 

 the length of his song ; it always being just completed as the perch is 

 reached, while it never seems hurried or varied in length. It begins with a 

 low tremulous trill, followed by slow and plaintive syllables, the last of which 



