520 KORTH AMERIOAN BIRDS. 



The eggs, five in niuul)er, have a light clay-colored ground, are marked 

 with obscure blotches of lavender and darker lines, dots, and blotches of 

 dark purplish-brown. They measure .80 by .65 of an inch. 



Plectrophanes ornatus, Towxs. 



CHESTNTJT-COLLAEED BTINnNG ; BLACK-BELLIED LONGSPUE. ^ 



Plectroplinu'soriiatus, Tow.\.sEMi, J. At. X;it. Sc. VII, 1837, 1S9. — Ib. Narrativi", 1S;59, 344. 

 — AcD. Syii. 1839, 99. — In. Hiuls Am. HI, 1841, 53, pi. cliv. — Nurr. ilan. I, (2d 

 ed.,) 1840, 537. — Baiud, Birds N. Am. 1858, 435. Emberiza ornala, Ari>. Oni. Biog. 

 V, 1839, 44, pi. ccexciv, f. 1. Ccnfrophancs ornatics, Cab.^ni.s, Mus. Heiii. 1851, 127r 



Sp. Cii.vr. Bill ilfii'k pliinil)eoii.<. Male. Crown, a narrow crescent on the side of the 

 head, wiili a line running into it from behind the eye, entire breast and upper part of 

 belly all round, black ; throat and sides of the head, lower part of belly and under tail- 

 coverts, with bases; of the tail-feathers, white. The white on the tail-feathers runs for- 

 ward as an acute point. A chestnut band on the back of the neck extending round on 

 the sides. Rest of upper parts grayish-brown, streaked with darker. Middle coverts 

 with a white patch. Lesser wing-coverts like the back. Legs dusky, bill blue, darker at 

 tip. Length about .5.2.5 inches ; wing, 3.20; tail, 2.30; t.irsus, .75. 



Female lacking the black and chestnut colors; the black of the breast indicated by 

 dusky streaks and a line of streaks each side of the throat. 



Hab. Plains of the Upper Missouri. San Antonio, Texa', spring (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 

 486). 



H.\BITS. This species was first discovered by Jlr. Townsend, who pro- 

 cured a single specimen, a male, on the Ujjper Missotiri Eiver. He describes 

 it as by no means a common bird, keeping in pairs and living exclusively on 

 the ground. It was remarkably shy, and Mr. Townsend was not able to pro- 

 cure more tlian a single specimen. 



IMr. Nuttall states that he met with tliis liird early in May, on the wide 

 grassy plains of the Platte. Tiie birds were already paired for the season. 

 He heard them utter no notes other than a chirp, as they kept busily foraging 

 for their subsistence. 



Mr. J. A. Allen (American Naturalist, May, 1872) speaks of this bird and 

 the Lark Bunting as by far the most interesting species seen by liim in 

 Western Kansas. Thej' were not only characteristic of the region, but were 

 also among the few birds strictly confined to the arid ]ilains. They were 

 quite abundant, but were oidy met with on the high ridges and dry })lateaus, 

 where they seemed to live si)mewliat in colonies. At a few localities they 

 were always numerous, but elsewhere would be tiequently not met with in 

 a whole day's drive. They were very wary and tenacious of life, often flying 

 a long distance after haWng been shot through vital parts. Most of the 

 specimens had to be killed on the wing, at a long range. They are strong 

 fliers, and seem to delight in flying in the .strongest gales, when all the other 

 birds appear to move with difficulty, and to keep themselves concealed among 

 the grass. This bird sings while on tlie wing. 



