The Gambel Sparrow 



interior plains to northern Mackenzie, and west to limit of trees in northwestern 

 Alaska; winters from northern California and Utah south to Lower California and 

 Mazatlan, Mexico; casually east during migrations to the Great Plains in Iowa, Kan- 

 sas, etc. 



Distribution in California. — Abundant in winter in the valleys and deserts 

 of southern California; in lesser numbers northward to San Francisco Bay and through- 

 out the great interior valley. Excessively common, especially east of the Sierras, 

 during migrations. Apparently does hot occur in the humid coastal region north of 

 San Francisco Bay. 



Authorities. — Gambel, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, i., 1S47, pp. 

 50-51 (part); Henshaw, Rep. Orn. Wheeler Surv., 1876, p. 241; Ridgway, Auk, vol. vii., 

 1890, p. 96 (crit.) ; Beal, Biol. Sun'. Bull., no. 34, 1910, pp. 75-77 (part) (food); Tyler, 

 Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 9, 1913, pp. 81-82 (habits) ; Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., 

 no. 12, 1914, pp. 168-170 (spring molt); Howell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 1917, 

 p. 77 (on coastal islands). 



EVEN as I sharpen my pencils prepared to "do" the Crown Sparrows 

 this crispish, bright October morning, the saucy rascals themselves are 

 besieging my studio with song. Their tuneful cohorts occupy every 

 point of vantage, the fence palings, the sage clumps, the lower branches 

 of the pepper tree. I am quite beset. And how shall a bird-man write 

 soberly of breeding ranges or interscapular areas (very necessary to an 

 understanding of leucophrys) amidst such a clatter of whistled hee hoos 

 and drawling recitative! I believe they are only half in earnest, the 

 courageous pretenders! A door flung open would send them madly 

 scurrying for cover, I warrant. A hush, a burst of wings, and thenceforth 



/.- 





Taken at Pasadena Photo bv Donald R. Dickey 



GAMBEL SPARROW, IMMATURE 



327 



