86 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OT 



sides of the breast and belly ; bat it is much lighter in tint than on the upper 

 parts ; and lias no very distinct line of demarcation with tbe white of the ab- 

 domen ; which latter varies greatly in parity and extent. There is never any 

 trace of reddish or pinkish on the sides; these parts being eoncolor with the 

 throat and breast, as in hyemalis. The space between the eye and bill, and to a 

 less extent the immediate circumocular feathers are blackish. The third lateral 

 tail featbtr has a greater amount of dusky than of white. Females are like 

 tli e males, except that tbe cinereous gray below is paler, the white abdomi- 

 nal region larger, and the union of these two colors more gradual. 



I have tbtts gone somewhat into detail regarding the characters of oregonus 

 nnd eankeps, because in my collection are several examples which I regard as 

 most undoubtedly hybrids between the two. Their general aspect is that of 

 tanieeps ; ihe head, neck and throat being slate gray, not black ; the lores de- 

 cidedly blackish, etc. There is a large dorsal area, colored as in orego- 

 nus, and, most marked feature of all, the sides are strongly tinged with pink- 

 ish fulvous, exactly as in oregonus, instead of being plain cinereous gray, con- 

 color with the throat, as in caniceps. Other specimens preponderate still more 

 towards oregonus. in having the head and neck rather slate black than slate 

 gray. 



The specimens are such palpable hybrids, that they need not in the least in- 

 validate the specific distinctions between the iwo species. In the case of Co- 

 Naples auralvs and mexicanus, it has been proven ineontrovertibly tbat such a 

 thing is entirely possible between closely allied though quite distinct species. 



I have examined the type of Dr. Henry's Jwaco dorsalis, from Fort Thorn, 

 now in the Philadelphia Academy ; and I cannot discern wherein it differs 

 from tanieeps Woodh. This tatter species however seems quite distinct from the 

 Mexican cnterevs, in the restriction of the chestnut to a well defined dorsal 

 area, instead of its extending over roost of the wing coverts and tertials; and 

 in the wholly white outer tail feathers, whereas in einereus a portion of their 

 bases, especially on the inner web, are dusky. The range of habitat cf the 

 two species is also diverse. 



154. Poospiza bilineata (Cass.) Sclater. 



Rare at Whipple, where the nature of tbe locality is not suited to it. Very 

 abundant in the southern and western portions of the Territory. Open plains, 

 grassy or covered with sage brush. 



In adult birds the black of ihe upper border of the superciliary streak ex- 

 tends across the forehead. Sometimes old birds have a decided ferrugineous 

 tint in the gray of the tipper parts ; but are never streaked. The moult con- 

 tinues until October. 



The young bird differs materially from the adult. There is no black about 

 the head or throat, arid the white streaks are nearly obsolete. The superciliary 

 sireak is short and indistinct; ana is not bordered above by black. Thelores 

 are simply dusky and not pure black. The throat is pure white ; and has a 

 row of small spots oa each side forming an imperfect maxillary streak, dividing 

 the white of the throat from thai of the side of tbe lower jaw. The tipper parts 

 a>e strongly tinged with dull ferrugineous; and are obsoletely streaked in tbe 

 middle of the back with black. The wing coverts and tertials are strongly 

 edged with ferrugineous. The breast is white streaked thickly with dusky. The 

 tail is black as in the adult, and the outer feather is white on its external web ; 

 but the n< xt three rectrices are not tipped with white. The lower mandible 

 and the feet are dusky flesh color ; instead of both being, as in the ad alt, bluish 

 black. 



355. Poospjza Belli (Cass.) Sclater. 



Rather uncommon about Fort Whipple, for the same reason as mentioned 

 under head of P. bilineata. Abundant in the sage brush of the Gila Valley. 

 Keeps much oa the ground, where its motions are very like those of a Pipilo. 



[March, 



