207 



575a. Peucasa aestivalis bachmanii (And.)- [226a.] Bachmau's Sparrow. 



Bachmau's Sparrow is a bird of the Southeastern States, reaching its 

 western limit in Texas. Although it is rather a common species along 

 the southern course of the Mississippi, up to southern Indiana and 

 southern Illinois, it was noted by but few of the observers. It was 

 found at Pierce City, Mo., as a not common breeder; and at Gaines- 

 ville, Tex., as a very rare species. At Gainesville, in 1876, the first 

 came April 10; but in 1881 the first was not noted, and only two speci- 

 mens were shot. Mr. Lloyd gives it as a breeder in eastern Concho 

 County, Tex. 



577. Peucaea mexicana (Lawr.). [ ] Mexican Sparrow. 



Breeds in the valley of the Lower. Rio Grande, in Texas, and thence 

 southward and westward. Dr. J. C.Merrill, U. S. Army, found it "in 

 some abundance on a salt prairie about 9 miles from Fort Brown, 

 Tex.," where he took a nest containing four fresh eggs, June 16, 1877.* 



578. Peucaea cassini (Woodli.). [228.] Cassin's Sparrow. 



In our district this species ranges as a summer resident from south- 

 eastern Texas to middle and western Kansas. In eastern Texas, near 

 Houston, Mr. Nehrling recorded it as "a common summer resident on 

 the open grassy prairies." Along the Lower Rio Grande, in the extreme 

 southeastern corner of the State, both Dr. Merrill and Mr. Sennett 

 found it breeding. Mr. Lloyd states that it is a common summer resi- 

 dent in Tom Green County, Tex., and is tolerably common in Concho 

 County in fall. It was observed at Gainesville, Tex., where the first 

 arrived May 13, and where it was marked rare. 



In the spring of 1885 the first Cassin's Sparrow arrived at San An- 

 tonio, Tex,, May 11. 



580a. Peucaea ruficeps boucardi (Scl.). [230.] BoucarcVs Sparrow. 



Occurs from central western Texas westward and southward. Mr. 

 Ridgway has kindly shown me a specimen, in the collection of the U. S.> 

 National Museum, which was kdled about the middle of May, 1878, 

 at Colorado, Mitchell County, Tex., where it was doubtless breeding. 

 580 b. Peucaea ruficeps eremoeca Brown. [ .] Rock Sparrow. 



Mr. Nathan Clifford Brown described this subspecies from speci- 

 mens taken by him at Boerne, Tex., in the winter of 1879-\S0 (Bull. 

 Nutt, Ornith. Club, Vol. VII, 1882, pp. 38, 39). A male and female 

 had been previously killed in Gillespie County, Tex. (April 24, 1878), by 

 Mr. Ragsdale. They were regarded as P. ruficeps (Ibid., Yol. Ill, 1878, 

 pp. 188, 189). 



581. Melospiza fasciata (Gruel.). [231.] Song Sparrow. 



The Song Sparrow breeds in Manitoba and throughout most of the 

 northern half of the Mississippi Valley, and was reported as a winter 



*Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. I, lb78, p. 127. It was recorded under the name of 

 Peuccea arizoncv, which. Mr. Ridgway now regards as not separable from P. mexicana, 

 (Manual of North American Birds, 1887, p. 594.) 



