388 NESTS AND E008 OF 



grass tops only. Some are much more artistically and compactly built than others; 

 the roof projects somewhat over the entrance in all cases." The nest is always placed 

 In a depression of the ground, and the entrance is invariably canted upwards at an 

 angle of about 15°. The entrance to the majority of the nests faced west. The nests 

 were found in growths of old-field pines, in patches of pine and plum bushes, on 

 slopes of hills, in open spaces under fallen branches. The birds do not rise off the 

 nest as other birds do when disturbed, but run some distance before taking flight." 

 Major Bendire states that the eggs of Bachman's Sparrow in the National Museum, 

 collected by Dr Avery, are pure white, but with less gloss than those of P. wstivalis, 

 more of a dead white. A set of four nearly fresh eggs taken May 8, gives the follow- 

 ing sizes: .72x.56, .75x.55, .72x.55, .71x.55. A set taken June 23, measures .75x.57, 

 .75X.60, .77X.G1, .76x.61* The late Captain B. F. Goss had a set of four eggs in his 

 collection, taken by Mr. Wayne. These measure .79x.63, .75x.63, .75x.63, .75x.63 

 Inches. 



576. ABIZONA SFABBOW. Peucwa arizonw Ridgw. Geog. Dist. — Southern 

 Arizona and Sonora. ' 



The general habits, nest and eggs of the Arizona Summer Finch, as it is called, 

 are identical with those of the next species. 



577. MEXICAN SPARROW. Peucwa mexicana (Lawr.) Geog. Dist— Valley 

 of the Rio Grande in Texas, south into Central and Western Mexico. 



Dr. James C. Merrill, met with this species on the Lower Rio Grande in Texaa. 

 He says the bird is found in some abundance on a salt prairie about nine miles from 

 Fort Brown, and it was obtained with difficulty, as it could rarely be flushed from 

 among the tall grass. "A nest, found June 16, 1877, was placed among the roots of a 

 tussock of grass; it was made of blades and stems of grasses, and was rather deep, 

 but so frail that it fell to pieces on removal. The eggs, four in number, were quite 

 fresh. They are unspotted, white, strongly tinged with greenish-blue, and meas- 

 ure .82X.63." Ridgway describes the eggs as plain, pure white, size, .72x.58 inches. 



578. CASSIN'S SPARROW. Peucwa cassini (Woodh.) Geog. Dist. — South- 

 western border of United States. Texas to Arizona, and Northern Mexico; north in 

 summer to the Plains of Kansas. 



The late Colonel N. S. Goss states that this species is a not an uncommon summer 

 resident in Middle and Western Kansas, arriving from the first to the middle of 

 May. Begins laying about the tenth of June. Their favorite resorts and breeding 

 grounds are on the barren plains that are dotted over with low, stunted bushes. Dr. 

 Merrill says Cassin's Sparrow arrives in the region of the Lower Rio Grande in 

 Texas, about the middle of March, and frequents the open chapparal and thick 

 bushes. Nests were found April 28, and May 4 and 22, 1877. They were placed at 

 the foot of small bushes, and scarcely raised above the ground; were composed of 

 dried grasses, lined with finer ones and a few hairs, but were very frail. Thirteen 

 eggs taken from these nests are pure white, and average .74x.57. Mr. Lloyd found 

 nests of this species in Western Texas in May, that were placed In bushes not higher 

 than a foot from the ground, or in tufts of grasses. 



579. EtTFOUS-WIlTGED SPARROW. Peucwa carpalis Coues. Geog. Dist.— 

 Arizona and Sonora. 



» For Major Bendlre's detailed account of the nest and eggs of "Peucsea ffistivalls 

 backmanii see The Auk, October, 1888, pp. 351-3B6. 



