266 HEERMANN'S NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



Spiza amaena, (Say.) Abundant during the summer, and has a clear musical song, 

 which it repeats at intervals. The nest is attached to the upright stalks of weeds, 

 around which grasses are wove, until the nest is built in a very substantial manner, 

 and lined with the fine fibres of the inner bark of the oak. The eggs are four in 

 number, of the most delicate blue tinge, almost white. 



Ammodromus ruficeps, Cassin. In the fall of 1S51 I met with a single specimen 

 of this bird, in company with a flock of Zonotrichife of various kinds. In the spring 

 of 1852 I found it quite abundant on the Caleveras river, where I procured several 

 specimens. Its flight appeared feeble, and when raised from the ground — from 

 which it would not start until almost trodden upon — it would fly a short distance 

 and immediately drop again into the grass. Its notes are a ditty, resembling that of 

 our Emberiza socialis, which I heard towards the spring season. This bird was 

 described in the last number of the proceedings of the Academy, by Mr. Cassin. 



Peucea LiNcoLNii, Aud. I found this bird quite abundant, on the Cosumnes river, 

 in the fall of 1851, where I generally observed it associated with other sparrows, 

 frequenting the bushes and weeds, amongst which they sought the grass seeds which 

 abounded in that locality. 



LiNARiA piNus, (Wils.) I met with this bird occasionally in the mountains, but 

 generally in company with the Carduelis psaltria and C. Lawrencii, Cassin. 



Carduelis tristis, (Linn.) Abundant. 



Carduelis Lawrencii, Cassin. I first discovered this bird in the fall season, near 

 a spring, in a very dry part of the country, and to which all the birds in the vicinity 

 came to satisfy their thirst, and I procured several at that time. At a later period, at 

 San Diego, a large flock of these birds having alighted on the ground, I killed 

 thirteen at one shot. Near Sacramento city I discovered its nest, which was built on 

 a scrub oak. It was composed of slender weeds outside, and lined with hair and 

 feathers. The eggs, five in number, are pure white. 



Carduelis psaltria, (Say.) This bird abounds in the mountains, feeding on grass 

 .seeds and the buds of young plants. 



ZoNOTRicHiA TowNSENDii, (Aud.) Abundant, and migratory. It frequents the 

 low thickets and underwood, and scratches up the top surface of the ground in search 

 of food, as does our Zonotrichia iliaca. 



ZoNOTRicHiA ciNEREA, (Gmel.) Abundaut, especially in the vicinity of marshes 

 and low swampy ground, where they are found in large numbers. 



Zonotrichia leucophrys, (Gmel.) Abundant; some few pairs breeding in the 

 vicinity of San Francisco. I have a series of specimens of this bird, which shows 

 conclusively that the Fringilla Gambelli, Nuttall, is but the young of this species. 



