682 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITOEIES. 



We first met with the piuk-sided snow-bird at Teton Caiiou, where I 

 secured one specimen, No. 186, (G2316.) After this they were very plenti- 

 ful all along our route, until we emerged from the pine forests and once 

 more entered the sage-brush plains. We generally found them in flocks 

 of from fifteen to twenty, moving about from tree to tree in search of 

 their food. 



One day, while out shooting in the Lower Geyser Basin, I saw a snow- 

 bird in a pine tree. I fired and it fell, and supposing it to be dead, I 

 searclied about on the ground, under the limb on which it had been sit- 

 ting, but found no traces of it. 1 at last discovered a small feather on the 

 edge of a mouse-hole, and thinking that the wounded bird might have 

 taken refuge in this subterranean abode, I commenced digging after him 

 with my fingers -, I had not gone far before I thought I felt feathers ahead ; 

 grasping them with my thumb and finger, I commenced pulling; the bird 

 came a little way, then, making a violent effort, escaped farther into the 

 hole, leaving in my hand two tail-feathers. 



Having no implements to dig with, except those with which nature 

 had provided me, I was compelled to give up the chase. 



Spizella sociaUs,,Bona\)., (chipping sparrow:) 



No. 



Catalogue- 

 number. 



Sex. 



Date. 



Measure- 

 ments. 



Locality. 



153 



178 

 243 

 206 

 232 

 270 



61779 

 62311 

 62812 

 62313 

 62315 

 62314 





 5 



5 



July 7,1872 

 July 20, 1872 

 Aug. 27, 1872 

 Sept. 14, 1872 

 Aug. 22, 1872 

 Sept. 15, 1872 



5| X7-H- 

 5f X8i 

 H X 8|- 

 5| X9f 

 5+ X9 

 5U X 9 



Fort Hall, Idaho. 

 Couant Creek, Idaho. 

 Lower Geyser Basin, Wyo. 

 Snake Eiver, Wyo. 

 Yellowstone River, Wyo. 

 Snake River, Wyo. 



Hah. — North America, from Atlantic to Pacific. 



Our common chipping sparrow is too well known to need description. 



Melosinza fallax, Baird, (mountain song-sparrow:) 



No. 



Catalogue- 

 number. 



Sex. 



Date. 



Measure- 

 ments. 



Locality. 



63 

 175 



61673 

 62303 

 62304 

 62305 

 62306 



9 

 ? 



June 14, 1872 

 July 18, 1872 

 Oct. 12,1872 

 Oct. 13,1872 

 Oct. 14,1872 



6A X 8,^- 



Ogden, Utah. 

 North Fork, Idaho. 



298 

 299 

 304 



6i X 8i 

 6| X 8 

 6f X 8^ 



Fort Hall, Idaho. 

 Do. 

 Do. 



Sab. — Eocky Mountain region from Fort Thorn to the Colorado. 



The mountain song-sparrow was common at Ogden, as it was at Fort 

 Hall and on the North Fork of Snake River. I found several nests of 

 this bird at Ogden, about the 1st of June. They were built in a clump 

 of bushes in a marsh, about six feet above the ground, were composed of 

 dry grass and rushes, and contained four to six eggs. 



