76 THE CONDOR [ VoL. VII $ay0rnis nigricans. Black Phcebe. A very few observed along the river. 0t0c0ris alpestris amm0phila. Mojave Horned Lark. But few horned larks were seen, and these eluded our pursuit. No specimens were secured, but it seems highly probable that they belonged to the Mojave Desert race. Corvus corax sinuatus. American Raven. Presumably this species. Com-. mon in.the vicinity, but wary as usual. They refused to be shot, oreyen trapped! Xanth0cephalus xanth0cephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. One lone indi- vidual was seen by Mailliard in the river bottom. Sturnella neglecta. Western Meadowlark. Several meadowlarks frequented the alfalfa patch and pastures below Victorville. Euphagus cyan0cephalus. Brewer Blackbird. Large flocks remained close about town or visited the cattle pastures nearby. Carp0dacus mexicanus fr0ntalis. House Finch. Not at all numerous; in fact, met with only on a few occasions about cultivated tracts in the river bottom. Astragalinus psaltria hesper0philus. Green-backed Goldfinch. A very few noted in the river bottom. Astragalinus tristis salicamans. Willow Goldfinch. Small companies were often met with feeding in weed patches near the river. Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. One specimen was secured from a small flock feeding in a weed patch. Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus. Western Savanna Sparrow. Abund- ant in the alfalfa patch and adjacent fields. Ch0ndestes grammacus strigatus. Western Lark Sparrow. A scattering flock was regularly observed in the neighborhood of the alfalfa patch, generally in company with juncos. Z0n0trichia leuc0phrys gainbell. Intermediate Sparrow. Very common in the brush all along the river. Sometimes met with in "sage" bushes far out on the desert. Spizella s0cialis ariz0nee. Western Chipping Sparrow. Small numbers were detected with flocks of juncos in the river bottom. Junc0 byemalls. Slate-colored Junco. Three specimens were taken and at least three others were seen. The captures may be recorded as follows: ??, No. 6243Cotl. J. G., Dec. 30; 3, No. 6x46Coll. J.&J. W.M., Dec. 54; 3, No. 6559 Coil. J. & J. W. M., Dec. 3 E. All were in company with individuals of t/?urber Junc0 byemalls thurberi. Sierra Junco. Very nnmerous in flocks or small companies all through the bottom lands near the river. Among the considerable series secured, none seem referable to any other of the western races. Amphispiza belli nevadensis. Nevada Sage Sparrow. Amphispiza belli canescerts. California Sage Sparrow. Sage Sparrows were fairly common out on the desert, and on sage fiats nearer the river. Out of eighteen specimens brought home, nine are referable to neva- densis and nine to canescens. The smaller size of the latter, with slightly darker coloration, is the diagnostic feature. Canescens evidently reaches this vicinity by a short journey from the southern Sierras to the westward; while nevadensis must come by a much longer route from almost due north. The latter is not known to breed south of about 360 Lat., and entirely east of the Sierra Nevada. Me10spiza cinerea montana. Mountain Song Sparrow. Me10spiza cinerea merrilli. Merrill Song Sparrow. Me10spiza cinerea c00peri. San Diego Song Sparrow. Out of forty-nine song sparrows collected by the party twenty-seven are refer- able to montana,two to merrilli, and twenty to cooperi. Among those referred to montana
