The Lincoln Sparrows 



ties, the Yolla Bollies, and associated ranges. Winters in southern California, north 

 at least to the San Joaquin Valley, and on the islands. 



Authorities. — Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. ix., 1858, p. 482 (Ft. Tejon, 

 etc.); Heermann (Peuccea lincolnii), Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. x., 1859, p. 49; Judd, 

 U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., no. 15, 1901, p. 86 (food); Grinnell, Univ. Calif. 

 Pub. Zool., vol. v., 1908, p. 98 (habits; crit.); Pierce, Condor, vol. xviii., 1916, p. 34 (San 

 Bernardino Mts. ; desc. nest and eggs.) 



No. 63a Forbush's Sparrow 



A. 0. U. No. 583a. Melospiza lincolni gracilis (Kittlitz). 



Description. — Closely resembles the foregoing form, but alleged to be darker, 

 more broadly marked with black above and below; upper plumage more olivaceous. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest and eggs probably indistinguish- 

 able from those of preceding race. 



Range of M. 1. gracilis. — Breeds in Northwest — west coast district in Alaska 

 from Prince William Sound south (at least) to Sitka; winters south to southern portion 

 of Lower California. 



Occurrence in California. — Winters at lower levels, commonly in the north- 

 west humid coast district, more sparingly southwest of the Sierras, and upon the deserts 

 to the Mexican line. Range imperfectly distinguished from that of M. I. lincolni. 



Authorities. — McGregor (Melospiza lincolni striata), Bull. Cooper Orn. Club, 

 1, 1899, p. 35 (Calif, localities) ; Grinnell, Auk, vol. xxi., 1904, p. 274 (syn., meas., crit.); 

 Oberholser, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., vol. xix., 1906, p. 42 (nomencl.); Grinnell, Univ. 

 Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. v., 1909, p. 23J (Alaska; habits, nest, etc.). 



WITH the possible exception of the Nelson Sparrow (Ammospiza c. 

 nelsoni), Melospiza lincolni is the shyest of Californian finches, — shyest, 

 that is, in winter, when all but birds of the sedentary species are treading 

 on strange ground, and feel the need of acting circumspectly. Although 

 so inconspicuously dressed that it could well afford to rely upon its 

 protective coloration, the winter Lincoln skulks and freezes, hides behind 

 plant stems, or at a word dives into the depths of the thickest cover. 

 The bird seems to possess an almost uncanny consciousness of the human 

 eye ,and it begins to evade upon the instant of recognition, as though struck 

 by the beam of a burning-glass. Once, in the valley of the Colorado 

 River, I caught sight of a Lincoln Sparrow in a naked mesquite tree some 

 twenty feet away. Instead of flying, the bird became instantly motion- 

 less, "froze" to a rigidity never before witnessed in a Passerine bird. 

 Its conduct puzzled me, so that I advanced, retreated, and circled half 

 way around it several times, but the bird never moved a muscle, save to 

 bat an eyelid, slowly and painfully. Altogether it behaved like a fore- 

 doomed victim whose arch enemy, the Sharp-shin (Accipiter velox), 

 has his deadly eye upon it. And forty years of acquaintance with the 

 Lincoln Song Sparrow in winter and on migrations will scarcely yield 



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