>
>>
>>#77-548 .3 mi E, .1 mi N of Mt. Misery, 6200', Garfield Co., WA
>> 25 June 1977 D.P. Mack 143 (Coll. R.E. Johnson)
>>M, testes L11x8, R12x8, no bursa, sl. fat, no molt, skull os., 25.6 g.
>>
>>#77-630 .3 mi E, .1 mi N of Mt. Misery, 6200', Garfield Co., WA
>> 25 June 1977 D.P. Mack 163 (Coll. R.E. Johnson)
>>M, testes L11x7, R12x7, no bursa, sl. fat, no molt, iris brown, skull os.,
>>25.4 g.
>>
>>
>In the section "Testis Volume and Histologic Stage", the authors state that
>the testis volume of 25 dissected males ranged from 16.9 to 137.1 cubic mm.
>"Fifteen males collected between 2 and 8 May averaged 60.19 cubic mm, and
>all of these birds were in the "fat" category. Ten males collected between 9
>and 15 May averaged 86.11 cubic mm. Eight of these last ten birds were
>"thin"." Only the length and width were given in the measurements of the two
>specimens in question. Perhaps someone would know the average depth of WCSP
>testis and thus enable volume estimation? But even if it were only 1mm, then
>both birds would fall into the middle of the measured ranges. Of course, if
>they were _Z. l. oriantha_, then the testis volume would likely be shifted
>higher since it is a bigger race.
>

One can make an approximation of testicular volume by averaging the
dimensions of the testes to a sphere, radius=(lengthxheightxwidth)/6
where height and width are assumed to be approximately the same (and
those of you who have handled sparrow testes probably know that it is
fair) in this case. The volume of a sphere= (4/3)*3.141*r^3

Now assuming that my math is correct, this gives very large testicular
volumes. About double those reported above (over 300mm^3). I think
breeding condition is a pretty safe bet.



--
*********************************** I was of three minds
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * like a tree
* mpatters at orednet.org * in which there are three blackbirds.
*http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters* -Wallace Stevens