FRINGTLLIDJ*: — THE FINCHES. ' 54I 



duskv ; lores and sub-orbital reffion like the superciliary stripe; auriculars pale brownish 

 like the crown, bordered along the upper and lower edge with a duskv narrow stripe. 

 Beneath white, slightly tinged with ashy on the flanks; sides of the throat, whole breast, 

 sides, and flanks, with narrow streaks of sandy-brown, more blackish toward the shaft; 

 abdomen, erissum, and lining of the wing, immaculate; throat with a few minute specks, 

 but along each side bordered liy a " bridle '"of sufl'used streaks. 



(J. (Collector's No. 1,744:, Ipswich, Mass. Dec. 4, ISGS ; C. .1. Maynard.) Wing, 

 3.2.0; tail, 2.60; eulmen, .45; tareus, .95; middle toe, .80; hind claw, .40. 



9. (Collector's No. 6,245, Ipswich, Oct. 15, 1871 ; C. J. U.) Wing, 2.90; tail, 2.40; 

 eulmen, .50 ; tarsus, .85 ; middle toe, .65 ; hind claw, .30. 



(Collector's No. 6,224, Ipswich, Oct. 14, 1871; C. .J. M.) Wing. 3.00; tail, 2.:30 ; eul- 

 men, ..50; tarsus, .85; middle toe, .60 ; hind claw, .30. 



The specimens described above were at first supposed to be Coiironyx 

 bairdi, having several points of resemblance to that species, a comparison 

 with the type in Professor Baird's collection at first failing to establish a dif- 

 ference, as it was in faded and much worn summer plumage, wliile tlie JMas- 

 sachusetts specimens were in perfect, blended lall dress, so that a satisfactory 

 comparison was almost impossilile. A more recent examination, lioweNer, 

 with the advantage of two additional s])ecimens of the Ma.ssachusetts bird, has 

 fully convinced Mr. Maynard that liis specimens are not Centronyx bairdi, 

 ami that, indeed, they are referrilile in all respects to the genus Passerculus. 



In carefully examining the type of Ccntroiiyx bairdi, it is seen that its 

 characteristic features are the following : Outstretched feet reaching be\'ond 

 the end of the tail ; hind claw as long as its digit, and much curved ; — whereas 

 in Mr. IMaynard's specimens the outstretched feet reach to only .about the 

 middle of the tail, while the hind claw is muffh shorter tliau its digit, and 

 only slightly curved. With a wing .lU to .45 of an inch longer, they have the 

 tarsus not any longer, and proportionally more slender. In coloration they are 

 still more different. The most striking feature in C. bairdi is a broad and 

 very conspicuous median stripe of ochraceous-buff on the crown, bordered on 

 each side by an aggregation of black streaks, which form the predominating 

 color of the lateral stripes ; of this median stripe there is scarcely any trace 

 in the specimens under consideration, while the crown generally is grayish- 

 brown, with small dusky streaks ; C. bairdi lias broad, conspicuous, black 

 stripes on the back, while P. maynardi has obsolete sandy-brown ones ; in 

 C. bairdi there are only a few small streaks of black across the jugulum 

 and along the sides aud flanks, while in P. maynardi the whole breast, as 

 well as the sides and flanks, are thickly streaked with broader marks of 

 sandy-brown. 



In point of coloration, as well as in the feet, there is in reality a much 

 closer resemblance to Passerculus rostratus ; but in this the \ery different 

 bill and different arrangement of markings are sufficient distinctive charac- 

 ters. 



Upon the whole, therefore, there can lie little douVit that the present birds 

 are well entitled to the name which 'Slv. Maynard lias given them ; for after 



