OCR Text |
Show 244 68. Spizella eocialis, ( Wils.), var. arizona, Cones.- Western Chipping Sparrow. According to Dr. Cooper, the Chipping Sparrow is an abundant bird in Northern California, and according to our observations it is pretty well diffased 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. I Sex. Locality. Date. Collector. Santa Barbara, Cal Moan tains near Fort Tejon, Cal do do Mount Whitney, Cal Jane 29 Aag. 8 Ang. 9 Aug. S Sept 19 H. W. Hensha* Da Do. Do. Do. 69. Spizella breweri, Cass.- Brewer's Sparrow. Of the distinctness of this species from the 8. 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 having 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 sparrow was found by our parties. It was here rather numerous in August, and I am inclined to believe that tnose seen here were summer residents. They perhaps winter in the extreme southern portion of the State. No. 413 476 77? Sex. tf ad. Jan. Locality. Mountains near Fort Tejon, Cal . . . . . . do do Date. Aag. 19 Aag. 14 Aag. 14 Collector. H. W. Henebaw do Wing. 3.44 8.40 2.43 Tail. 2.73 3.63 Bill. 0.33 a 35 a 34 Tarsus. 0.67 0o.. 66a7 70. Melo8pizamelodia} ( Wils.), var. Aeermanni, 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 distinguished. Their tones are deeper, the songs longer, and of a much more varied character than the monotonous ditties of the eastern Melospisa. 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 Rushes, their only companions being the Rails and Marsh Wrens. This was the only Melospisa seen by us in the south of the State, and is par excellence the California!! Song Sparrow. |