518 NORTH AMERICAiJ BIRDS. 



red, auJ at times almost black. In some, fine olive-browu dots cover the egg 

 so completely as to make it appear as of one uuifunu deep culor. In others 

 the brown is lighter and more of a reddish hue, and again in others the 

 markings are iu irregular distribution, and of ditl'erent shades. Tliey meas- 

 ure .80 by .60 of an inch. 



Nest with eggs (7414), collected on Anderson Pdver, Franklin Bay, June 

 27, by R jSIacFarlane, was built on the ground, and is deeply saucer-shaped, 

 measuring 3.75 in external and 2.30 in internal diameter ; the deptli 2.75 

 exteriorly and 1.50 interiorly. It is composed of coarse wiry grass-stems, 

 and softly lined with feathers of Lagopm. The eggs, five in number, have 

 the ground-color light umber-drab, this faintly lilotched with deeper livid 

 slate, and with a few straggly black lines, nuich as in certain leteridw and 

 in Chondestcs. Thev measure .80 of an incii iu lengtli liv .fi-"5 in breadth. 



Plectrophanes pictus, Swainson. 



SMITH'S BUNTING; PAINTED LONGSPITR. 



Emberiza {PUclrophnnes) piela, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 250, pi. 49 (spring). — Nftt. 

 Man. II, 589. Plcdrophnncs pictus, AuD. Syn. 1839, 99. —Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 

 52, pi. cliii (Richardson's speuinien). — Bahid, Birds N. Am. 1858, 434. — Dall & 

 Bannister, Tr. Ch. A. S. I, 1869, 283 (Alaska). Emberiza pkUi, AuD. Orn. Biog. V, 

 1839, 91, pi. cccc. Cmtrciphancs pidux. Cab. Mus. Heiu. 1851, 127. Pleclrop/utncs 

 smitki, Auu. Birds Am. VII, 1844, 337, pi. ccccl.xx-wii (winter). 



Sp. Char. Mah. Sprincr. Top and side.<! of heart black. . A lino from bill over the 

 eye, lore.=, lower and posterior border of the black checks, ears (encircled by black), and a 

 small patch in the nape, white. Entire under parts, and extending round neck to nape 

 (where it bounds abruptlythe black of head), buff or light cinnamon-yellow ; the under 

 tail-covert paler; the inside of wings, white. Feathers of upper surfaces black, edged 

 with yellowi.sh-gray ; shoulders or le.sser coverts and the greater black ; middle white, 

 forming a conspicuous patch. Quills edged externally with white, this involving the 

 whole outer web of outermost primary- Whole of outer and most of second tail-leather 

 white. Bill dusky ; lower mandible and legs yellowi.sh. Length, 5.50 ; wing, 3.50 ; 

 tail, 2.75 ; bill, .45. 



Female. The markings of male faintly indicated, but the black and buff wanting. 

 Head above brown, streaked centrally with paler. A narrow dark line on each side the 

 throat, and brownish streaks across the jugulum, and along sides of body. Traces visible 

 of the white marks of the head. Bill and feet as in the male. 



Hab. Prairies of Illinois and Missouri Plains, in winter; in summer north to the 

 Arctic Ocean. 



This species is cpiite similar in form to P. krpponims, although witli slen- 

 derer bill, and perhaps longer hind claw. While the colors of adult males 

 are very different, the females have a decided resemblance ; they may, how- 

 ever, be distinguished in all stages by the black or dusky legs of lapponicus 

 and the yellow of pictus, and pei'liaps by the more dusky upper mandible of 

 the latter. 



