390 



NESTS AXn EOas OF 



Mr. Nathan Clifford Brown describes this subspecies from specimens taken by 

 him at Boerne, Texas, In 1879-80. He states that he always found the bird in rocky 

 localities, usually in close proximity to a creek, but occasionally on barren hills a 

 mile or more from water. It has the same shy, skulking habits which are common 

 to other species of the genus, rarely taking wing on the approach of an intruder so 

 long as rock, bush or weed affords a hiding place. Two sets of the eggs of this bird 

 are in Mr. Norris' collection. One was collected June 19, 1884, in Comal county, 

 Texas, the nest being on the ground in a bunch of grass; sizes, .81x.61, .85x.62, .81x.62, 

 .83X.62. The other set was collected April 4, 1882, in the same region, and the nest 

 was likewise on the ground in a bunch of grass. These eggs measure, .82x.64, .78x.64, 

 .73X.63, .78X.64. The eggs in both sets are plain bluish-white. 



American continent. 



581. SOITG SPARROW. Melospiza fasciata (Gmel.) Geog. Dist.— Eastern 

 United States to the Plains, breeding from Virginia and southern portion of the 

 Lake States northward to the Fur Countries. 



The Song Sparrow in its diverse geographical forms — varying in size, color, 

 and in the relative size of the bill, etc., inhabits the greater part 'of the North 

 The present species is one of the sweetest of songsters and is 

 a familiar bird in Eastern United States, 

 where, east of the Alleghanies, it breeds 

 from South Carolina north into the British 

 Provinces. West of the Alleghanies It 

 breeds chiefly north of 40° latitude, and- 

 is resident throughout the year in a large 

 portion of the area in which It breeds. Its 

 nest may be found all through the summer 

 months, two or three broods being reared; 

 if the nest is destroyed or robbed, a fourth 

 or fifth is frequently built, in which eggs 

 are deposited. It is generally placed on 

 the ground or in low bushes. The mater- 

 ials used in its composition are grasses, 

 weeds and leaves, lined with fine grass 

 stems, roots, and In some cases hair. 

 Nests of this bird have been found built in 

 holes of apple trees, and on the branches 

 six or eight feet from the ground.. Again 

 they have been placed by the side of a railroad track where the trains are continually 

 passing. It is very frequently built in honeysuckle and other vines against the 

 sides of houses. Curious places are often selected as nesting sites, such as a horse's 

 skull in a grassy field, or under an old tin pan which has a hole in the top. The 

 eggs are usually four or five, sometimes six, and rarely seven. So great is the 

 diversity in their coloration and size that they generally serve to represent the eggs 

 of several different species of "ground-birds" in the small boy's collection. ■ They 

 vary from greenish or pinkish-white to light bluish-green, more or less thickly 

 spotted with dark reddish-brown; the ground color and the spots have a diversity 

 of shades; sizes range from .75 to .85 in length by .55 to .60 in breadth. 



Song Sparrow. 



581a. DESERT SONG SPARROW. Melospixa fasciata fallax (Baird.) Geog. 

 Dist. — Parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Southern Nevada and Southwestern Utah. 



