382 Birds of Colorado 
This genus, as restricted by Ridgway, contains two rather distinct 
species with several additional geographical races ; it ranges over the 
arid plains of south-west United States and northern Mexico. 
A. A white superciliary stripe ; throat-patch black in adults. 
A. b. deserticola, p. 382. 
B. Only the supraloral spot white ; chin and throat chiefly white. 
A. nevadensis, p. 383. 
Desert-Sparrow. Amphispiza bilineata deserticola. 
A.0.U. Checklist no 573a—Colorado Records—Ridgway 73, p. 182; 
Cooke 97, pp. 106, 215 ; Warren 06, p. 23 ; 09, p. 16 ; Gilman 07, p. 157. 
Description.—Male—Above plain greyish-brown; a conspicuous 
white superciliary and malar stripe, the former edged with black above ; 
lores, malar region, throat and chest black ; ear-coverts and sides of 
the chest ashy, shading into white on the rest of the lower surface ; 
outer pair of tail-feathers with the outer web and a terminal spot 
about -25 inch long white ; iris black, bill blackish with a paler spot on 
the lower mandible. Length 5-25; wing 2-75; tail 2-5; culmen -42 
tarsus -70. 
The sexes are alike, but the female is slightly smaller. A young 
bird is like the adult, but has no black on the head, the throat and 
chest being white, finely streaked with dusky. 
Distribution.—The desert country of south-west United States and 
northern Mexico, from western Texas to southern California, and from 
northern Nevada and Utah to Chihuahua. 
The Desert-Sparrow is not uncommon in the southern and south- 
western portions of Colorado where desert conditions prevail, and 
where the sage-brush is predominant. It is probably a summer resident, 
wintering further south. The first definite record is that of Aiken, who 
obtained an example in Fremont co., July 27th, 1872. It has sub- 
sequently been recorded from near Cafion City by P. L. Jones, who 
found a single pair nesting in 1888 (Cooke), from Gaume’s Ranche 
in the north-western corner of Baca co., where Warren found it common 
and breeding from 18th to 25th May ; from La Plata River near the New 
Mexican boundary, and from the McElImo district of Montezuma co. 
(Gilman), and Bedrock, Montrose co., after April 17th (Warren, 09). 
Habits.—This bird is eminently characteristic of the 
dry mesas and sage-brush (Artemesia) and chaparal- 
covered wastes of New Mexico and Arizona, though it 
is to be found in the rocky hills as well. It has 
a cheerful song, with clear tinkling notes. The nest 
is placed low down in a bush, generally an Artemesia, 
