NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 89 



resembles that of Lophortyx Garnbeli. Its song is superb ; a powerful but 

 melodious succession of clear rich rolling notes, reminding one somewhat of 

 the Icterus buLimore. " Net met with in the Colorado Valley." (Cooper). 



164. Cyanospiza amcena (Say,) Baird. 



Summer resident ; not abundant. More common somewhat further South. 



PIPILO Vieillot. 



The genus Pipilo of Vieillot, as now usually defined by ornithologists, 

 seems to embrace species not strictly congeneric with its type, P. erythroph- 

 thalmus. The differences lie chiefly in the shape of the wings and tail, and in 

 the relative proportions of these parts to each otber, as well as in the pattern 

 of coloration. 



In the bird now generally known as Pipilo chlorurus these variations from 

 the type are most marked. The long wings almost equal the tail, which latter 

 is scarcely at all graduated. The elongated first primary gives a more 

 pointed shape to the wing. The pattern of coloration is unusual and quite 

 peculiar. The genus Kieneria was established by Bonaparte,* with the 

 Pyrgisoma Kieneri as type ; and under it this author ranges rvfipileus, fuscus, 

 Abertii, etc. But the P. Kieneri seems quite congeneric with the type of 

 Pyrgisoma; in which event Kieneria becomes a synonym, untenable for this 

 or any other group. " Pipilo " chlorurus being generically dissimilar from the 

 type of Embernagra (Saltator viridis Vieillot,) to which genus it has been 

 referred, very probably is wanting in a tenable generic application, unless the 

 name Chlorura f fills this vacancy. 



After thus eliminating P. chlorurus, there still remain, in North America, 

 four species, crissalis X Vigors, mesoleucus Baird. albigula Baird, and Abertii 

 Baird ; which agree with each other in differing from the black, white, and 

 chestnut group of which P. erythrophthalmus is the type, in the proportions of 

 wings and tail, amount of graduation of the latter, and pattern of coloration. 

 They should, I am of opinion, constitute a separate generic group, of which 

 P. Abertii may be considered the type. I believe that this genus has yet to 

 receive a distinctive name. 



165. Pipilo megaloynx Baird. 



Very abundant permanent resident. Rather more numerous in spring and 

 fall than at other times. Shy and retiring, inhabiting the thickest brush. Is 

 in moult through part of July, whole of August, and half of September. 

 Ordinary call-note almost exactly like that of Minus carolinensis : the song a 

 rather harsh and monotonous repetition of four or six syllables, something 

 like that of Euspiza americana. Females found with mature eggs in ovi- 

 ducts as early as May -5th. 



The female of this species is not brown, conspicuously different from the 

 male, but only dull brownish black. I think this is the case also with the 

 other western Pipilos with spotted scapulars ; in which there is to be found 

 no such sexual difference as is seen in P. erythrophthalmus. 



In carefully examining a very large series of Pipilo from Arizona, as well 

 as from other localities, I find it difficult to discern constant and tangible dif- 

 ferences between arcticus and megalonyx. My specimens are all referrible to 

 the latter species, or variety, if it be only one. I prefer now to leave the sub- 



* Uomptes Rendus. xl., Jan., 1855, p. 356. 



fUsed by Sclater, Cat. Atner. Bds., p. 117, as designating a snbgeneric division. 



j Vig. Z iol. Toy. Beechey, v. p. 19, which equals fuscus of Cassin, Baird and other American 

 writers, but not of Swainson. 



\ Which probably is the true fuscus Swains. Syn Mex. Bds. Phil. Mag. i. If 27, No. 46, and Two 

 Cent., 1838, p. 347, No. 197. See Cabanis, Journ i". Ornith., Nov., 1852, p. 474, for critique upon 

 synonymy of J ipilones. But Cabanis' statement that P. megalonyx Baird is a synonym of P. 

 ma'culatus Swainson will require confirmation. 



1866.] 



