236 LAND BIRDS 



housekeeping ; but both male and female responded to 

 the call, leaving the nest unguarded. 



All these Juncos found at Del Monte or Monterey 

 and vicinity are of the variety known as Point Pinos, 

 a subspecies of the gray-headed or common junco of the 

 Eastern States. In habits and song the species are 

 closely identified. 



574. BELL SPARROW. — Amphispiza belli. 

 Family : The Finches, Sparrows, etc. 



Length: 5.50-5.75. 



Adults : Upper parts brownish gray, grayer on head and neck ; the back 

 generally without distinct . streaks ; orbital ring, spot over the eye, 

 broad malar stripe, chin, throat, and under parts white ; black spot 

 on middle of chest ;-throat marked on sides with a continuous stripe 

 of blackish ; wing-coverts edged with buffy ; edge of wing yellowish ; 

 tail-feathers black, indistinctly marked with lighter. 



Young : Upper parts light grayish brown, streaked with dusky ; under 

 parts butfy ; chest distinctly streaked with dark gray ; wings with 

 two rather distinct pale buff bands. 



Geographical Distribution : West of the Sierra Nevada and San Bernar- 

 dino mountains from Marin County to Lower California. 



California Breeding Range : In upper Sonoran zone locally, west of the 

 Sierra Nevada from latitude 38° southward. 



Breeding Season : May and June. 



Nest : Of grass stems and vegetable fibre ; lined with hair ; placed in 

 low bushes. 



Eggs : 3 or 4 ; pale greenish blue, finely dotted and speckled with dark 

 reddish brown. Size 0.74 X 0.60. 



The Bell Sparrow is abundant on the bush-covered 

 plains of Southern California as well as in the foot-hills. 

 It is a thicket-dweller, darting from the cover of one 

 clump to another with rapid flight as if uneasy in the 

 open. Its nest is in the thickest of the bushes, but 

 the anxious chirp of the male sparrow is sure to reveal 



