.

574. BELL'S SPARROW. _Amphispiza belli._

Range.--Southern half of California and southward.

These grayish, black and white birds are abundant in sage brush and
thickets, nesting on the ground or at low elevations in bushes, and
during May or June, laying from three to four eggs of a pale greenish
white color, spotted and blotched with reddish brown and purplish. Size
.75 x .60.

[Illustration 353: Black-throated Sparrow.]
[Illustration: Bluish white.]
[Illustration: 573a--574.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]

Page 352

574.1. Sage Sparrow. _Amphispiza nevadensis nevadensis._

Range.--Sage deserts of the Great Basin from Oregon and Montana, south
to Mexico.

This sub-species is abundant throughout its range where it nests near or
on the ground, in or under bushes and generally concealed from view. The
nests are made of grass and sage bark lined with fine grass; the eggs
are like those of the last species, greenish white, spotted and blotched
with shades of brown and purplish.

574.1a. GRAY SAGE SPARROW. _Amphispiza nevadensis cinerea._

Range.--A smaller and paler variety found in Lower California.

The nests and eggs of this pale variety probably do not differ in any
respect from those of the better known varieties.

575. PINE-WOODS SPARROW. _Peucaea aestivalis aestivalis._

Range.--Florida and southern Georgia.

These birds are common in restricted localities in their range, nesting
on the ground under bushes or shrubs; the nests are made of grasses and
the four or five eggs are pure white with a slight gloss. Size .75 x
.60. The birds are said to be fine singers and to frequent, almost
exclusively, pine barrens.

475a. BACHMAN'S SPARROW. _Peucaea aestivalis bachmani._

Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf States; north to Indiana and Illinois.

This variety is common in most localities in its range, frequenting pine
woods and barrens chiefly, and nesting on the ground in May or June.
Their nests are made of grasses and lined with very fine grass, and have
the tops completely arched over leaving a small entrance on the side.
The eggs are pure white with a slight gloss and measure .75 x .60.

576. BOTTERI'S SPARROW. _Peucaea botterii._

Range.--Mexican plateau north to southern Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

They nest in abundance in tall grass in the lowlands of their range, the
nests being difficult to find because the bird flushes with great
difficulty. The nests are on the gr