440 NORTH AMEPJCAN BIRDS. 



attention, it being almost exactly similar to tliat of its eastern i-elative 

 (P. rubra). Afterwards he continually met with it in wooded portions, 

 whether among the willows and cottonwood of the river-valleys, or the 

 cedars and piiions of the mountains. In Ma}', 1868, among the willows 

 and buffalo-berry thickets of the Truckee Valley, near Pyramid Lake, it was 

 very abundant, in company with Grosbeaks and Orioles, feeding upon the 

 buds of the grease-wood (Obione), and later in the summer among the cedars 

 and nut-pines of East Humboldt Mountains, where the peculiar notes of the 

 young arrested liis attention, resembling the complaining notes of the Blue- 

 bird, but louder and more distinct. In Septenilier lie noticed them feeding, 

 among tlie thickets bordering the stream.-,, upon tiie puljiy fruit of the 

 thorn-apple (Cruta-fjiis) that grew plentifully in the thickets. To the east- 

 ward it was continually met with, in all wooded portions, as far as tliey 

 explored. 



In manners it is very similar to the P. rubra. The songs of botli birds 

 are very nearly alike, being equally fine, but that of this species is more sil- 

 very in tone, and uttered more falteringly. Its usual note oi 2}iit-it is quite 

 different ii\)m the chip-a-ra -ree of the P. rubra. 



He met with their nest and eggs at Parley's Park, Utali, June 9, 18G9. 

 The nest was on the extreme end of a horizontal branch of a j)ine, in a grove, 

 flat, and with only a very slight depression, having a diameter of four and a 

 half inches, with a height of only an inch. It was composed externally of 

 onW a few twigs and dry wiry stems, and lined almost entirely with fine 

 vegetable rootlets. 



The eggs, usually three in nunilior, nu'asure .95 by .66 of an inch. In 

 form they are a rounded-oval. Their ground-color is a light bluish-green, 

 sparingly speckled, chiefly at the larger end, with marking of umber, inter- 

 minjiled with a lew dots of lilac. 



Pyranga hepatica, Swainson. 



Pyranga hepaliai, SwAlNSON, Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 124. — Sclater, Pr. Zoiil. Soc. 1S56, 

 12i. — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 302, pi. xxxi. — Kksn-erly, 131. — Ridoway, Pr. 

 A. N. S. 1869, 132. —Cooper, Orn, Cal. I, 1870, 144. Phcenicosomn li^pntica, Car. 

 Mus. Hi'iii. 1851, 25. Pyranga azara;, Wuodhousk, Sitgieave's Expl. Zuui, 1853, 82 

 (not of other authors). 



Sp. Char. " Longth, 8.00"; wiiifr, 4.12; tail, 3.36; ciihrKMi, .68; tarsus, .84. Secoml (|iiill 

 longe,>;t, first intermediate lietweeii fourth and fifth. Bill somewhat shorter than that of 

 CEstiva, but broadiT and higher at tlie ba<e, becoming eoinitressed toward the end ; a dis- 

 tinct prominent tooth on commissure ; its color plumbeous-black, paler, or more hhiixli plum- 

 beous on lower mandible. Male. Head above brownish-red, purer anteriorly ; rest of up- 

 per parts and sides brownish-ashy, tinged with reddish ; edges of primaries, upper tail- 

 coverts .and tail, more reddisli. Beneath, medially, fine light .scarlet, most intense on the 

 throat, growing gradually paler posteriorly. Lores and orbital region grayish-white ; eye- 

 lids pah'-reil ; ear-coverts ashy-red. 



