1912] Taylor: Birds and Reptiles of Northern Nevada. 393 



Spizella passerina arizonae Coues 

 "Western Chipping Sparrow 



Distribution. — Observed to 9000 feet altitude ; most commonly 

 seen in the mountain mahogany on the west slope of the moun- 

 tains (BOOO to 7000 feet). This accords practically with Ridg- 

 way's statement of the habitat of the chipping sparrow as 

 observed by him in the Great Basin (1877, p. 479). 



Habits. — The bird's presence in our neighborhood was pro- 

 claimed by the trilled call-note which we heard from time to 

 time and which proved very difficult to locate, especially in the 

 sagebrush country. The birds were seen in the limber pines 

 near the summit, in the quaking aspens on the ridges, in the 

 mountain mahogany and in the sagebrush. 



A nest was found July 13 on the shore of Alder Creek Lake 

 (7800 feet)'. The nest contained two young birds and two pipped 

 eggs, and was built near the shore of the lake four feet above 

 the ground. The nest rested on slender twigs on an outer limb 

 on the south side of the bush, being fairly well concealed by 

 upright twigs. Materials used in construction were small sticks 

 and dried grass, the lining being of rootlets and cowhair. The 

 dimensions of the cavity were: diameter 57 mm. (214 inches), 

 depth 28 mm. (1% inches). 



Seven specimens (nos. 8702-8708) were preserved. 



Spizella breweri Cassin 

 Brewer Sparrow 



Distribution. — Practically coincident with that of the sage- 

 brush; apparently limited little by altitude. Observed from 

 4100 to 9000 feet, and from Winnemucca to Virgin Valley. The 

 great vertical range of this species in a particular sort of envi- 

 ronment, regardless even of whether the environment is contin- 

 uous or not, is another exemplification of the principle adduced 

 by Ridgway (1877, p. 378), and discussed as regards the hum- 

 mingbird, the flicker, and the Harris woodpecker. 



Habits. — Spizella breiveri was by far the most abundant of 

 the bird species encountered in the region. This accords with 



