NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 113 



nous " mustache ;" sides of the breast with large ovate spots of 

 black ; middle of the breast with less numerous, smaller, and more 

 longitudinal ones of the same ; sides, flanks, and abdomen, with 

 broad hastate spots, more irregular and transverse on the former; 

 throat, tibiae, anal-region, and lower tail-coverts immaculate. Upper 

 surface generally, deep black, the feathers bordered with pale 

 ochraceous, the scapulars and middle wing-coverts much varie- 

 gated with the same; secondary-coverts, secondaries, and prima- 

 ries narrowly tipped with white. Upper tail-coverts pale ochra- 

 ceous, barred with black. Tail ashy-brown, very much lighter than 

 the rump (more hoary than in the adult), narrowly, but clearly, 

 tipped with white, and crossed by ten or twelve narrow bands of 

 black, more distinct than in the adult. Under surface of primaries 

 more whitish than in the adult. 



Male (No. 8550, Fort Fillmore, New Mexico ; Dr. T. 0. Henry, 

 U. S. A.) :' Head, neck, and lower parts, soiled ochraceous-white. 

 Feathers of the head above, and neck laterally and behind, with 

 medial stripes of blackish-brown ; jugulum, breast, sides, flanks, 

 and abdomen, with large rounded spots of blackish-brown ; tibiaa 

 with transverse bars of the same ; lower tail-coverts almost im- 

 maculate. A conspicuous "mustache" of blended dusky streaks, 

 from angle of the mouth across the cheeks, the dusky suffusing 

 the lores. Whole auricular region scarcely variegated pale yellow- 

 ish ; entire chin and throat immaculate. Prevailing tint above, 

 blackish-brown, becoming purplish-black on primaries ; outer sur- 

 face of wing plain, but interscapular region somewhat variegated 

 with partially concealed, irregular blotches of deeper ochraceous 

 than the lower parts ; upper tail-coverts with pairs of indistinct 

 white spots. Tail grayish-brown (white at extreme base), crossed 

 with about ten narrow, indistinct, but regular bands of dusky. 

 Lining of the wings yellowish-white, with sparse cordate spots of 

 blackish, this tint prevailing over the under primary coverts ; 

 under surface of the primaries pure purplish-black after their 

 emargination, but anteriorly plain hoary brown, growing paler 

 basally. On inner webs are very indistinct transverse spots of 

 dusky, touching neither the edge nor shaft of the feather, and 

 entirely concealed when the wing is closed. Shafts of primaries 

 pure white on under side ; on outer side, dark brown. Wing 



1 Type of B. oxyplerus, Cassin ! 



