ound, made of grass, and the three to
five eggs are pure white, measuring .75 x .60.

[Illustration 354: 574.1--576.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 353

578. CASSIN'S SPARROWS. _Peucaea cassini._

Range.--Plains and valleys from Texas and Arizona north to Kansas and
Nevada.

These birds breed in numbers on the arid plains, placing their grass
nests on the ground at the foot of small bushes or concealed in tufts of
grass, and during May lay four pure white eggs which are of the same
size and indistinguishable from those of others of the genus.

579. RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW. _Aimophila carpalis._

Range.--Plains of western Mexico and north to southern Arizona.

This pale colored bird bears a remote resemblance to the Tree Sparrow.
They nest commonly in dry arid regions, placing their nests at low
elevations in bushes or cacti, preferably young mesquites, and making
them of coarse grass lined with finer. Two broods are raised a season
and from May to August sets of four or five plain bluish white eggs may
be found. Size .75 x .60.

580. RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW. _Aimophila ruficeps ruficeps._

Range.--Local in southern half of California and in Lower California.

A brownish colored species both above and below, which is found on
mountains and hillsides in restricted localities. They nest on the
ground placing their grass structures in hollows, usually at the foot of
a small bush or shrub and well concealed. They lay from three to five
pale bluish white eggs. Size .80 x .60.

580a. SCOTT'S SPARROW. _Aimophila ruficeps scotti._

Range.--Western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona south in Mexico.

A paler species, above, than the last, and whitish below. It is quite a
common species on the mountain ranges where it nests on the ground, in
clumps of grass or beneath shrubs or overhanging rocks; the nests are
made of grasses and weeds scantily put together. The eggs are white,
untinted. Size .80 x .60.

580b. ROCK SPARROW. _Aimophila ruficeps eremaeca._

Range.--Middle and southern Texas and south in Mexico.

This variety frequents rocky mountain sides where it nests abundantly
under rocks or at the foot of shrubs, the nests being made of coarse
grasses loosely twisted together and lined with finer grass. The birds
are shy and skulk off through the underbrush upon the approach of anyone
so that the nests are quite difficult to find. The three to five egg