SOME UNITED STATES BIRDS, NEW TO SCIENCE. 323 
into so many ‘‘ genera” that nobody could sort them out if they 
were once mixed up; it is only by the peculiar process, known to 
ornithologists, and others, of calling a spade an agricultural imple- 
ment, that they are perpetrated and perpetuated. Lt. Bendire says 
this sparrow is very common where he is, and that it stays there 
all the year; that he generally finds it in company with the black- 
throated finch (Poospiza bilineata), the habits of the two being 
much the same, and the nesting quite alike. The rufous-winged 
sparrow builds in a small mezquite or sage bush, often close to 
the ground and rarely over four feet from it. The nest is made of 
fine dry grasses and roots, with slender tops of ‘‘sacaton” (rye 
grass) and sometimes a few horse-hairs ; it is quite deep, let down 
into a fork or crotch. The eggs are said to be almost exactly like 
those of the following bird, only a trifle larger, and four or five to 
a clutch, instead of three or four. 
' The Black-throated Sparrow (Poospiza bilineata) is a much 
prettier, jaunty-looking bird, with a jet black throat and face set 
off with pure white stripes. It is common on and near our south- 
western border. I frequently saw it in New Mexico and Arizona, 
at different seasons, but never found a nest, and do not know who 
was more fortunate until Lt. Bendire gathered quite a large lot. 
One of them now lying before me is composed of fine grass-stems 
mixed with much more of very soft-fibred inner bark of some plant 
Ido not recognize, and lined with a little horse-hair. It is marked 
“ Sept. 14th, 1872 ;” and I may as well mention here as elsewhere, 
that the laying season of several Arizona birds besides this one is 
protracted through September.* A set of eggs, taken August 25, 
numbers three; size, :73 X °58, *74 X °58, and *72 X ‘57, respec- 
tively. These are perfectly plain, white with a faint bluish cast ; 
but occasionally — Lt. Bendire says about one set in twelve — the 
eggs are sparsely speckled with reddish. He continues : — “ This 
bird is plentiful about here, and resident. It prefers higher ground, 
two hundred to five hundred yards from the creek bottom, though 
seldom further out on the plain. The nest is placed in a small 
Mezquite, thorn or sage bush, seldom over four feet high, often 
almost on the ground. The clutch is usually three, rarely more. 
Two if not more broods are raised each season. I found fresh 
E Taaa a 
*The following birds were still laying Sept. 13— Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus, 
a Pipilo Abertii, P. “ mesoleucus,” Zenedura Carolinensis and Chame- 
Pelia passerina 
