350 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
which offsets the gray of the branches, results in a most effective 
disguise. 
GENUS AMPHISPIZA. 
General Characters. — Bill small, nearly straight ; wing slightly rounded, 
but without elongated inner secondaries; tail nearly equal to wings, 
feathers rounded at ends; tarsus longer than middle toe and claw, side 
toes of unequal length. 
KEY TO SPECIES. 
1. Throat black. 
2. Smaller; upper parts darker. Kansas to central Texas. 
bilineata, p. 350. 
2'. Larger, upper parts paler and browner. Western Texas to California. 
deserticola, p. 350. 
1'. Throat white. 
2. Smaller and darker. West of Sierra Nevada . . . belli, p. 351. 
2'. Larger and paler. Sagebrush plains . . . nevadensis, p. 351. 
573. Amphispiza bilineata (Cass.). Black-throated Sparrow. 
Adults. — Lores and throat patch black ; sides of head dark gray with 
two white stripes, under parts mainly white; 
upper parts plain grayish brown; tail, except 
middle feathers, marked with white. Young: 
without distinct black markings ; throat white, 
often marked with gray ; chest streaked ; wing 
coverts and edges of tertials light buffy brown. 
Male : length (skins) 4.S0-5.25, wing 2.43-2.60, 
tail 2.27-2.47, bill .38-.39. Female: length 
(skins) 4.75-5.35, wing 2.38-2.60, tail 2.18-2.45, 
bill .38-.40. 
Distribution. — From western Kansas south 
to middle and eastern Texas and northeastern 
Mexico. 
Nest. — In bushes, sagebrush, and other 
desert shrubs, composed of fine shreds of bark. 
Eggs: 3 or 4, plain greenish or bluish white, rarely lightly spotted. 
573a. A. b. deserticola Ridgw. Desert Sparrow. 
Adults. — Similar to A. bilineata “ but averaging larger; upper parts 
paler and browner, and white spot at end of inner web of outermost tail 
feather much smaller.” (Ridgway.) Young: feathers of back edged 
with buffy rufous ; breast streaked with gray ; belly white. Male : length 
(skins) 4.90-5.45, wing 2.52-2.78, tail 2.40-2.69, bill .39-.42. Female: 
length (skins) 4.80-5.20, wing 2.45-2.60, tail 2.32-2.49, bill .36-.41. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Lower Sonoran zone on the arid plains from 
western Texas and New Mexico — west of 103° — to the coast of south¬ 
ern California, and from northern Utah and Nevada south to northern 
Mexico and Lower California. 
Nest. — In sagebrush, cat’s-claw, cactus, or other bushes, loosely made 
of dry grass and fine plant stems, lined with feathers, horsehair, and wool. 
Eggs: 3 or 4, bluish white. 
On long hot rides over the larrea and low mesquite plains of New 
Mexico the desert sparrow is the commonest bird of the way, its 
