548 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



varied several times in a very remarkable maimer. In Massachusetts I have 

 known this species to have its compleinent of eggs by tlie 1.3th of April. 



The eggs of this species are usually live, often four, and rarely six in 

 number. Tliey are of an oblong-oval shape, the smaller end but slightly 

 more pointed tlian the other. They vary greatly in size, ranging from .90 to 

 .80 of an inch in length, and averaging about .65 in breadth. Tlieir ground- 

 color is a pale greenish-wlute, marked vs'ith spots, lines, dots, and blotclies 

 of various shades of reddish and purplish brown. In some eggs the spots 

 are few and small, chiefly confluent in a ring about the larger end, while the 

 ground-color is very ])lainly distinguishable. In others the ground is nearly 

 concealed by the abundance of the spots. 



Genus COTURNICULUS, Uo.nap. 



Cotumkulns, Bonap. Geog. List, 1838. (Type, Friur/i/la passerina,^ViLS.) 



Gen. Cii.vr. 



(except 

 late and 



Bill very large and stout, (except in O. lecotitei) ; tlie under mandible 

 broader, but lower than the upper, which is deci- 

 dedly convex at the basal portion of its upper 

 outline. Legs moderate, apparently not reaching 

 to the end of the tail. The tarsus appreciably 

 longer than the middle toe ; the lateral toes equal, 

 and with their claws falling decidedly short of the 

 middle claw ; the hind toe intermediate between 

 the two. The wings are short and rounded, 

 reaching to the base of the tail ; the tertiaries 

 almost as long as the primaries; not much differ- 

 ence in length in the primarie.«, although the 

 outer three or four are slightly graduated. The 

 tail is short and narrow, shorter than the wing 



in C. lecotitei), graduated laterally, but sliglitly emarginate ; the feathers all lanceo- 



acute, but not stiffened, as in Ammodromus. 



Coturniculus passfrinns. 



This genus agrees with Passcrruli<s in the short and narmw tail. The 

 wings are much shorter and more rounded ; the feet shorter, especially the 

 middle toe, which is not its long as tlie tarsus. The tail-feathers are more 

 lanceolate. The bill is much larger, and more swollen at the base. 



The essential characters of this genus consist in the swollen convex bill ; 

 the short toes, compared with tlie tarsus; the short and rounded wings ; and 

 the very small, narrow, slightly graduated tail, with its lanceolate acute 

 feathers (except in the South American C manimbe). 



In some respects there is a resemblance to Ammodiwmni, in which, how- 

 ever, the bill is very much more slender; the wings still shorter, and more 

 rounded ; the tail-feathers much stiffer, and even more lanceolate ; the toes 

 extending beyond the tip of the tail ; the middle toe rather longer than the 

 tarsus, instead of considerably .shorter. 



C. lecontci has the same general form, but a much smaller bill. 



