542 NORTH AMERI(""AN BIRDS. 



making all possible allowance for seasonal cliirerences in coloration, we have 

 found it iniijossible to reconcile them with the C. hairdi. 



In this species there is a slight superficial resemblance to Poocaies gra- 

 ni incus; hut upon comparison it will he found to he entirely different: thus, 

 P. gramineus lacks the median light stripe on the crown, has the lesser wing- 

 coverts rufous and the lateral tail-feathers white, while tlie streaks are all 

 blackish and the ground-color diflerent ; the generic details, too, are quite 

 different. 



H.\BiTS. This species lias been obtained only in Eastern Massachusetts, 

 where, in the neighborhood of Ij)swich, it was found among tlie sand-hills by 

 the sea-shore. The place where the indiviihials taken were met with is a 

 ratlier remarkable tract, three miles in length and nearly one in breadth. It 

 is as treeless as the Great Plains, and as bleak and barren, witli no vegetation 

 except a scant growtli of coarse grass. Mr. Maynard obtained liis fir.st speci- 

 men early in December, 1868. Although others were seen, yet this was all 

 he was tlien al)le to ol:>tain. He has since taken others in the same place 

 and season. Nothing is known as to its habits. It uttered, as it rose, a short 

 chirp of alarm. 



Passerculus rostratus, Baird. 



SAN DIEGO SPARROW. 



Evibcrizn rostraia, Cassin, I'r. A. N. 8c. VI, 1852, 348. Ammodramws rostratus, Cassin, 

 111. I, 1855, 226, pi. -xxxviii. Passerculus rostratus, Baihu, Birds N. Am. 1858, 446. 

 — CooPKii, Orn. C'al. I, 1870, 184. 



Sp. Char. Bill very Ions; (.55 of an inch above). Whole upper parts and .sirlcs of 

 head and neck pale browni-sh-gra}' (alnio.'st fulvous), nearly every feather with a darker 

 central blotxih, darkest alonij the shaft. A scarcely appreciable central stripe in the 

 crown, an olxscure yellowish-white superciliary, and a whitish ma.xillary one. Under 

 parts pure white ; streaked on the breast and the sides of throat and body with dark 

 brown (the .itreak paler externally). Under tail-coverts unspotted white. Tail and 

 wing feathers and wing.s rnarsined with the color of the back ; the edses of tertiaries 

 rather paler. Length, 5.30 ; wing, 2.1)0 ; tail, 2.30. 



Hab. Coast of Cahfornia, south to Cape St. Lucas; mouth of Colorado River (Dr. 

 Palmer). 



The bill of this species is very long and conical, the cutting edge nearly 

 straight. The wings are ratlier long, the tertiaries nearly as long in the 

 closed wing as the primaries ; the second, third, and fourth quills longest, 

 the first rather longer than the fifth. The tail is short and emarginate, the 

 feathers narrow, acute, and moderately stiff. The tarsi are long ; the claws 

 little curved. 



This species resembles the Pnssercuhis savanna rather more than any of 

 the other sparrows with spotted breasts ; the biU is, however, very much 

 longer and larger, exceeding any of our American species of its size, the 

 upper outline more convex. Its colors are much paler, and it lacks the 





