FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 351 
black tail always disappearing in the bushes ahead of the horses as 
you pass. 
When we were camped on the arid mesa of the Pecos River, 
among the sounds that were oftenest in our ears were the songs of 
the mockingbird and nonpareil, the iterant pe-cos' of the scaled quail, 
and the calls of the verdin and roadrunner, while, mingled with them, 
always tinkling from the bushes, was the cheery little tune of 
Amphispiza. Tra-ree'-rah, ree'-rali-ree was one of the commonest of 
its varied modifications, and it was generally given with a burr like 
that of the lark sparrow. On all our walks through the thorn brush 
and climbs over the agave-speared hills we found the lovely little 
bird everywhere, sitting on top of the bushes singing with head 
thrown back in fine enjoyment of his bright lay. 
One small father bird, trying to attract us when we were taking 
notes on the first plumage of his brood, after twittering and calling 
in vain, flew excitedly to a bush top and fairly burst into song while 
his mate was trailing over the ground beside us, with the result that 
the brood grew so unmanageable that they popped out of the nest 
faster than we could put them back! 
574. Amphispiza belli (Cass.). Bell Sparrow. 
Adults. — Throat bordered with black and white stripes ; breast with 
black blotch; rest of under parts white ; orbital ring and spot above 
lores white ; upper parts brownish gray, grayer on head, usually without 
distinct streaks ; wing coverts and tertials edged with buffy; edge of wing 
yellowish; tail feathers black, indistinctly marked with lighter. Young: 
upper parts light grayish brown, streaked with black ; under parts buffy, 
streaked except on throat; wing with two rather distinct buffy bands. 
Male : length (skins) 4.90-5.70, wing 2.32-2.79, tail 2.32-2.87, bill .32-.41. 
Female : length (skins) 5.00-5.60, wing 2.40-2.61, tail 2.30-2.70, bill .31- 
.39. 
Distribution. — From about latitude 38° in valleys and foothills of Cali¬ 
fornia, west of the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Mountains, to north¬ 
ern Lower California. 
Nest. — About 3 feet from the ground, made of grasses and slender 
weeds, lined partly with hair. Eggs : 4, pale greenish, thickly spotted 
with reddish brown dots. 
In Los Angeles County, California, Mr. Grinnell finds the Bell 
sparrow locally common on the brush-covered washes of the mesas, 
extending up to 5000 feet in summer. 
574a. A. b. nevadensis (Bidgw.). Sage Sparrow. 
Adults. — Sides of throat with a series of narrow blackish streaks, but no 
continuous stripe ; chest with black spot; sides and flanks faintly tinged 
with light brown ; rest of under parts whitish ; upper parts light grayish 
brown, back usually streaked narrowly but clearly ; outer web of lateral 
tail feather white. Young : like adults but upper parts and chest streaked, 
and wings with two buffy bands. Male : length (skins) 5.50-6.20, wing 
