134 BREWER'S SPARROW. 



lows : "The Clay-colored Sparrow is one of that group to which we have previously 

 alluded, as characterizing a Campestrian Province. Its range is closely coincident 

 with that of Sprague's Pipit, Baird's and Leconte's Sparrows, Harris' Finch, McCown's 

 and Chestnut-collared Longspurs, and Lark Bunting; — being the Great Plains, in their 

 whole extent, from the valley of the Saskatchewan southwards, and to the eastward 

 excending sparingly into the prairie districts along the eastern side of the Mississippi 

 River. In Illinois, the present species is known with certainty to occur only in the 

 more northern portions of the State, although it no doubt inhabits the prairie districts 

 well southward, especially in the more western counties." 



To the West it is found to the base of the Rocky Mountains, and in winter it 

 occurs along the southern border to Arizona and Lower California. 



In its habits this bird closely resembles the Chippy, especially in its confiding fami- 

 liarity, and its song is said to be also very similar to that of its congener. The nest 

 and eggs of one species are hardly distinguishable from those of the other. 

 NAMES: Clay-colored Sparrow, Shattuck Bunting (Audubon), Prairie Chipping-bird, Prairie Chippy. 

 SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Embenza pallida Swains. (1831). SPIZELLA PALLIDA Bona.p. (1838). Etnberiza 



sbattacki And. (1843). Spizella sbattucki Bonap. (1850j. 



DESCRIPTION: "Smaller than S. socialis. Back and sides of hind neck, ashy. Prevailing color above, pale 

 brownish-yellow, with a tinge of grayish. The feathers of back and crown streaked conspicuously 

 A^ith blackish. Crown with a median pale ashy and a lateral or superciliary ashy-white stripe. 

 Beneath, whitish, tinged with brown on the breast and sides, and an indistinct narrow brown streak 

 on the edge of the chin, cutting off a light stripe above it. Ear-coverts,- brownish-yellow, margined 

 above and below by dark brown, making three dark stripes on the face. Bill, reddish, dusky towards 

 tip. Legs, yellow. — Length, 4.75 inches; wing, 2.55 inches." (Ridgway.) 



Brewer's Sparrow, Spizella breweri Cassin, represents the foregoing closely allied 

 species from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast, south to southern California 

 and Arizona. Dr. Heermann was constantly meeting them in the Tejon valley, asso- 

 ciated with large flocks of other Sparrows, congregated around the cultivated fields of 

 the Indians. Dr. Coues states that it is a rare summer bird at Fort Whipple, Arizona. 



Prof. R. Ridgway found this interesting little Sparrow, while abundant in all 

 fertile districts, almost exclusively an inhabitant of open situations, such as fields or 

 bushy plains, among the artemisia especially, where it is most numerous. It frequents 

 alike the valleys and the mountains. At Sacramento it was the most abundant Spar- 

 row, frequenting the old fields. The song, he adds, for sprightliness and vivacity is not 

 excelled by any other of the North American Finches, being inferior only to that of the 

 Lark Sparrow in power and richness, and even excelling it in variety and compass. Its 

 song, while possessing all the plaintiyeness of tone so characteristic of the eastern Field 

 Sparrow, unites to this quality a vivacity and variety fully equaling that of the finest 

 Canary. This species is not resident there, arriving about April 9. He found its nest 

 and eggs in the Truckee Reservation, early in June. The nests were in sage brushes, 

 about three feet from the ground. They are built of dry grasses, rootlets, and are lined 

 with hair. They resemble closely the eggs of the Chipping Sparrow. 



DESCRIPTION: "Similar to S. pallida; the markings including the nuchal color more obsolete; no distinct 

 median and superciliary light stripes. The crown streaked with black. Some of the feathers on the 

 sides with brown shaits. — Length, 5,00 inches; wing, 2.50 iuch«s.'' (B. B. & R.) 



