NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 93 



The differences between this species and Stelleri of the Pacific coast, as de- 

 tailed by Prof. Baird, seem to me quite sufficient to separate them. I may 

 add, that in macrolopha the bluish white wash on the front occupies, 

 when the feathers are undistorted, two straight lines, ascending perpendicu- 

 larly from each nostril, and quite distinct from each other ; while in Stelleri 

 the tendency is for the whole front to be indiscriminately washed with bluish. 

 In both species, the colored tips of the frontal feathers have a somewhat dif- 

 ferent texture and consistence from their dark basal portions. 



A large series of specimens, chiefly from the head waters of the Columbia* 

 have the front washed with dull blue just as in Stelleri; and have also the 

 white supra-ocular spot of macrolopha. It is quite possible that hybrids of the 

 two species may occur ; but I am not prepared to say positively that such is 

 the case in the present instance. Both species are found in the regions above 

 referred to. 



(182.) Pica hudsonica (Forst.) Bon. 



Spariugly distributed throughout the Territory. Not personally met with 

 at Whipple. 



Young birds shot in June in the Raton Mountains near Taos, N. M., have 

 the bill tipped with yellowish. The tail is only about three inches long. But 

 there is a most remarkable similarity in color to the adults ; almost the only 

 perceptible differences being a restriction of the white on the primaries, and 

 rather dull greenish black instead of violet black wings and tail. 



The yellow billed P. Nuttallii, so abundant in Southern California, does not 

 appear to cross the Colorado desert to the river. 



COLUMBWsE. 



183. Columba fasciata Say. 



Summer resident ; very rare ; observed only on two occasions. 



184. Melopeleia leucoptera (Linn.) Bonap. 



Rare ; summer resident. Young birds, half fledged, taken Aug. 15, 1864. 



185. Zenaidura cakolinensis, (Linn.) Bonap. 



Abundant summer resident. Arrives last week in April, remains until 

 middle of October. "Winters at Fort Mojave, and on the Pacific coast as 

 high as San Fraucisco." (Cooper.) 



To the traveller on the dry sandy wastes of Arizona this bird is always a 

 welcome sight, indicating with certainty the presence of water in the vicinity. 

 I have never known the sign to fail in my own limited experience. The na- 

 ture of the food ordinarily taken necessitates an abundant supply of water. 

 This was satisfactorily demonstrated to me on one occasion, when the crops of 

 several, shot just as they were coming to drink, were filled with small seeds, 

 as dry and hard as when first ingested, and totally unassimilable until mace- 

 rated with water. 



186. Cham^epeleia passerina (Linn.) Swains. 



A rare and probably accidental visitor to the Valley of the Colorado. (Fort 

 Yuma, lees, La Paz, Hut.ton. ) Probably goes at least as high as Fort Mojave. 

 Perhaps variety pallescens Baird, from Cape St. Lucas. 



PHASIANIDsE. 



187. Meleagris mexicana Gould. 



There can be no doubt of the propriety of separating the Western Turkey 

 from the common species of the Eastern United States. The differences are 

 very decided, and of such a character as to have an important bearing upon 

 the question of the origin of the domesticated bird. The latter, as is well 

 known, usually approaches mexicana rather than gallipavo, in its colors. 



*The locality whence came the Gamdus Stelleri of Swainson (F. B. A. 1831, ii. p. 294, pi. liv.) 

 which is probably rather referrible to macrolopha than to the true SUMeri. 



1866.] 



