The Western Grasshopper Sparrow 



The nests are grass-lined depressions sunk flush with the level of the 

 ground, and usually ensconced in the shelter of some weed or important- 

 looking grass-tuft. The female leaves in a casual way, and whether she 

 sneaks or flushes sharply, it takes a quick eye to mark the movement of 

 such an obscure groundling. 



Mr. J. B. Dixon reports 1 the taking of a nest near Escondido, first 

 noted on the 13th of April, 1915. It was 

 located in an extensive alkaline 

 meadow covered with salt grass, 

 and enjoyed the shelter of a 

 clump of grass. The nest, 

 which contained four eggs, 

 was built entirely of fine 

 dead w e e d - s t a 1 k s, 

 loosely pressed together, 

 with a lining of fine dry 

 grass and grass-seed- 

 heads, and was so frail 

 that its removal could 

 with difficulty be accom- 

 plished. 



"When we ap- 

 proached the nest the 

 female flattened out on 

 the nest and watched us 

 anxiously. She flushed 

 when we were about six 

 feet away, and after we 

 had stood still for several 

 seconds conversing in 

 whispers upon the color 

 pattern of the back, and 

 the lack of a decided 

 yellow streak over the 

 eye the observers had 

 anticipated some form 

 of Passerculus. The 

 bird slipped off the nest 

 with no trace of commo- 

 tion, and ran, or rather 

 sneaked away, using 



1 Condor, Vol. XVIII., March, 1916, p. 84. 



Taken in San Diego County Photo by D. R. Dickey and 



WESTERN GRASSHOPPER SPARROW: (Cover Cut Aw 



L. Huey 

 ay) 



2 6k 



