DESERT SPARROW. 
573a. Ampliispiza bilineata deserticola. 5*4 inches. 
This is an abundant bird among the foothills or south¬ 
western United States, in Texas, New Mexico and southern 
California. It is found in the hot desert plains, where it 
builds its nest in low bushes, of the sagebrush or cactus, 
within two or three feet of the ground. It is made up ot 
twigs, roots and tine grass, and lined with feathers and horse¬ 
hair. They lay three or four bluish white eggs (./Lx.oo). 
BELL SPARROW. 
574. Ampliispiza belli. inches. 
In the hot valleys and foothills of the southern half of 
California and in the Colorado Desert, south to Lower Cali¬ 
fornia these grayish, black and white sparrows are found 
abundantly in localities where the sagebrush is common. 
They build their nests of roots and twigs, loosely put to¬ 
gether, and usually lined with grass, feathers and horsehair, 
in the low sagebrush within two feet of the ground, oi quite 
often placed on the ground under the cover ot one of these 
bushes. They lay three or four pale greenish eggs heavily 
blotched and spotted with shades of brown (.75x.bU). 
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