Aug., 1845.] 265 



12 inches. Bill black, along ridge 1 and 5-8th inches, inner surface of upper 

 mandible almost flat, the edges sharp and projecting; each mandible triagonal ; 

 the lower narrower than the upper. Eyes projecting. Irids hazel. 



This curious bird was first seen by the naturalists in La Perouse's expedition, 

 as he tells us, who considered it a Promerops; and he merely remarks on it, 

 " we killed and prepared a Promerops which most ornithologists believe pe- 

 culiar to the ancient continent, "and gives no further description of it. 



The figure given in plate No. 37 of the Atlas is very inacccurate in every 

 respect, except as regards size; the tail of the bird is not so graduated and tipped 

 as in the figure, and although the breast alone is showed, the broad pectoral 

 band and white throat is not given : the black line over the eye also is incorrect ; 

 however, it is nearly as good as the figure of the Californian Quail. 



No further account of this bird (as far as I can learn) has been given since 

 the time of La Perouse until now, and it is rather singular that so many travel- 

 lers should have passed through the country it inhabits without finding it, from 

 which I infer its rarity even there. Both specimens which I have seen were 

 shot on the ground, near Monterey, in Upper California. 



Veillot and Lotham also mention this bird, merely quoting La Perouse's 

 words, of course giving neither name or description. 



Parus, Linn. 



Par*7s *inornatus. Male. — Crested: above olive brown; beneath greyish white, 

 with a slight tinge of brownish on the flanks. Front close to bill, round the eye and 

 ears grizzled grey. Crest high and pointed like that of the P. bicolur. Bill and 

 feet leaden-blue, the former very stout and blunt. Wings and tail dark-brown, 

 the feathers edged with the same colour as the back; some of the primaries also 

 with a faint edging of whitish. Irids wood-brown. 1st primary half the length 

 of the 2d ; 4th 5th and 6th equal. Extent of wings a little over 8 inches. 

 Wing from flexure 2f inches. Tail nearly even 2 \ inches. Total length 5§ 

 inches. 



Upper California, common — frequenting the evergreen oaks in company with 

 the other western species. 



Parus *fasciatus. Male. — Feathers of the head elongated, erectile into a crest; 

 head greyish brown, inclining to bluish grey on the cheeks and sides of the neck. 

 Back, rump, margins of wing and tail feathers olive brown. Beneath pale rufous, 

 slightly mingled with bluish grey about the throat and breast, and with brownish 

 about the flanks and vent. Wings and tail dusky brown, the latter distinctly 

 barred throughout with a darker colour, having from 20 to 25 bars, the quill 

 feathers also barred in the same manner on their inner webs. Bill and feet 

 dark horn colour. Feathers between nostrils and eye whitish. Wings short 

 and rounded. 1st quill an inch shorter than 5th, 6th and 7th, which are longest 

 3d shorter than 9th to 12th, from flexure 2f inches. Tail very long, cuneated. 

 3$ inches in length, two outer feathers 1£ inches shorter than middle ones, 

 Tarsus long and slender, 1 inch. Total length about 5 inches, extent of wings 

 the same. 



This very distinct species, after having once discovered, I found to be quite 



32 



