470 LAND BIRDS 



feathered, but remained in the nest until the fourteenth 

 and sixteenth days, when one and two, respectively, 

 fluttered out on untried wings. The father took charge 

 of the one that left home first, while the patient mother 

 fed and coaxed the lazy ones. These were finally started 

 into flight by a little judicious jiggling of the nest branch 

 on the part of a less patient observer. 



The call of the Vermilion is a characteristic loud and 

 constantly repeated " peet, peet," or " peet-ter-weet." 

 The song is a clear twittering remarkable only for its 

 joyous enthusiasm. 



498 e. SAN DIEGO RED- WINGED BLACKBIRD. 



Agelaius phoenkeus neutralis. 



Family : The Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



Length: 7.85-9.00. 



Adults: Similar to Sonoran red-winged, but smaller; female darker, 



with upper parts less conspicuously streaked, while under parts are 



more so. 

 Geographical Distribution : Great Basin district of United States, south 



through Southern California. 

 California Breeding Range : Locally in the interior and southern part of 



the State, chiefly in San Diegau district. 

 Breeding Season: April 15 to May 25. 

 Nest and Eggs : Similar to those of the Sonoran red-wing. 



The Red-winged Blackbird of the East is, in Cali- 

 fornia, divided into three subspecies, — the Sonoran, 

 which occurs only along the Colorado River in the extreme 

 southeastern corner of the State ; the San Diego, which 

 is common locally throughout the interior and southern 

 districts, breeding wherever found, but most abundant 



