The Lincoln Sparrows 



and the nests, when they are built, are placed well above the mud of 

 last year's high-water mark. In the vicinity of the Salton Sea, nesting 

 occurs in March, and February nests in the same region are a strong 

 probability. 



Comparison of an extended series of Song Sparrows' eggs in the 

 collections of the M. C. 0. shows the eggs of M. m. saltonis to be brighter 

 as to ground and decidedly lighter as to spotting than those of the eastern 

 Song Sparrow. The difference, though unmistakable, is very much 

 less than exists between the birds themselves; and one hesitates to affirm 

 any bleaching action in the case of the eggs. 



No. 63 



Lincoln's Sparrow 



A. 0. U. No. 583. Melospiza lincolni lincolni (Audubon). 



Synonym. — Lincoln's Song Sparrow. 



Description. — Adults (sexes alike): Above grayish olive, sharply streaked 

 with black, the streaks broadest on back and scapulars; the feathers of pileum bor- 

 dered with rusty and olive-gray; exposed edgings of wings and tail pale cinnamo- 

 meous; pattern of head obscurely 12-rayed; below, throat and belly white, the former 

 never quite immaculate, but with small arrow-shaped black marks; sides of head and 

 neck and remaining underparts, including a well-defined band across chest, creamy 

 buff, everywhere marked by elongated and sharply-defined black streaks; occasionally 

 a dusky spot on center of breast. Bill blackish above, lighter below; feet and tarsi 

 light brownish. Juvenals: Much like adult, but more heavily streaked and with 

 buffy duller, more diffused. Adults measure: length about 146. 1 (5.75) ; wing 63 (2.48) 

 tail 53.6 (2.1 1); bill 10.2 (.40). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler size; bears general resemblance to Song Sparrow 

 from which it is distinguished by sharply-defined buffy chest-band, and by narrower 

 sharper streaks of breast and sides. 



Nesting. — Nest: On the ground or in tussock of swamp, rarely low in bushes 

 a cup of twisted grasses, well concealed. Eggs: 4 or 5; pale bluish green, spotted 

 and blotched, uniformly or in cloud-cap or wreath, with reddish brown (burnt umber). 

 Av. of 5 eggs from Mono County (M. C. O.) : 19.3 x 13.97 (-7° x .55). Av. of 5 eggs 

 from Salt Lake Co., Utah: 16.5 x 13.7 (.65 x .54). Season: June; one brood. 



Range of Melospiza lincolni. — North America. 



Range of M. I. lincolni. — As above, except northwest coast district in Alaska. 

 Breeds in Boreal zone, from limit of trees in Alaska and British Columbia south to 

 northern Minnesota, northern New York, etc., and in the Sierra-Cascade and Rock}' 

 Mountain systems south to southern California and New Mexico; winters from southern 

 California, Oklahoma, and the Gulf States south to Guatemala. 



Distribution in California. — Breeds in mountain meadows of the Lower 

 Boreal zone in the higher ranges throughout the State. Recorded from the San 

 Jacintos, the San Bernardinos, the Sierras (including Shasta), the Warners, the Trini- 



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