244 
C8. Spizella socialis, (Wils.), var. arizonce , Cones.—Western Chipping Sparrow. 
According to Dr. Cooper, the Chipping Sparrow is an abundant bird in Northern Cal¬ 
ifornia, and according to onr observations it is pretty well diffused too in the Southern 
half of the State. The young and old were seen in great numbers in the mountains in 
the vicinity of Fort Tejon in early August. This species was also seen in June on the 
island of Santa Cruz. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
141 
c? jun. 
c? jun. 
9 jun. 
9 ad. 
9 ad. 
Santa Barbara, Cal. 
June 29 
H. W. Hensliaw. 
269 
Mountains near Fort Tejon, Cal. 
Aug. 2 
Aug. 2 
Do. 
270 
.do. 
Do. 
271 
.do. 
Aug. 2 
Sept. 19 
. * 
Do. 
487 
Mount Whitney, Cal... 
Do. 
G9. Spizella breweri, Cass.—Brewer’s Sparrow. 
Of the distinctness of this species from the S. pallida I am well assured, believing 
that the differences seen in the plumage, which are perfectly appreciable and always 
constant, the different character of songs and habits, and the totally different habitats 
of the two are points of distinction too great to be reconciled on the assumption of a 
mere varietal difference. No intergradation between the two has ever been attempted 
to be proven, their sameness specifically haviug apparently been taken for granted on 
the strength of the superficial resemblance of the two birds. 
The mountainous country adjoining Fort Tejon was the only locality where this spar¬ 
row was found by our parties. It was here rather numerous in August, and I am in¬ 
clined to believe that those seen here were summer residents. They perhaps winter in 
the extreme southern portion of the State. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Date. 
Collector. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Bill. 
Tarsus. 
413 
476 
cf ad. 
9 
Mountains near Fort Tejon, Cal 
.do. 
Aug. 19 
Aug. 14 
A n o-. 14 
H. W. Henshaw. 
_do. 
2. 44 
2. 40 
2. 73 
0. 33 
0. 35 
0. 67 
0. 68 
772 
+ 
Jun. 
.do . . .... 
_do . _ 
2. 43 
2. 63 
0. 34 
0. 67 
70. Melospiza melodia, (Wils.), var. heermanni , Bd.—Heerman’s Song Sparrow 
This Song Sparrow is found all over the southern half of California, and like its allies 
is, wherever found, an abundant species. 
They like best the vicinity of water, and will always be found in the thickets of the 
small streams, preferring, however, not to follow these upward as they course down 
from the high mountains, but keep pretty exclusively in the low altitudes. Precisely 
like their relative in the East, they are always to be seen in the cultivated fields of the 
farmer, and build even in the hedgerows that surround the houses in the outskirts of the 
cities. In short, the bird is almost an exact reflection of the Eastern Song Sparrow. 
Their songs, however, while in general style similar to that bird, are very readily dis¬ 
tinguished. Their tones are deeper, the songs longer, and of a much more varied char¬ 
acter than the monotonous ditties of the eastern Melospiza. 
They were quite numerous about San Francisco in November, and I presume they 
are permanent residents of the same locality throughout the year. 
On the borders of Kern Lake, these Sparrows were found in the swamps of Tulle 
Hushes, their only companions being the Rails and Marsh Wrens. 
This was the only Melospiza seen by us in the south of the Slate, and is par excellence 
the Californian Song Sparrow. 
