;i2 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Hab. Upper Missouri River and high central plains to the Saskatchewan country. 

 Cape St. Lucas, Oaxaca, March (Sol. 1859, 379) ; Fort Mohave (Coopkk, P. A. N. S. Cal. 

 1861, 122) ; San Antonio, Texas, spring (Dresser, Ibis, 18C5, 489 ; common). 



The ashy collar is quite conspicuous, and streaked aljove with lirowii. 

 The rump is immaculate. The streaks on the feathers of the crown almost 

 form continuous lines, about six in number. The brown line above the ear- 

 coverts is a post-ocular one. That on the side of the chin forms the lower 

 border of a white maxillary stripe which widens and curves around beliind 

 the ear-coverts, fading into the asliy of the neck. The wing-feathers are all 

 margined with paler, and there is an indication of two light bands across the 

 ends of the coverts. 



The young of tliis species is thickly streaked beneath over the throat, 

 breast, and belly, with brown, giving to it an entirely diflerent appearance 

 from the adult. The streaks in the upper parts, too, are darker and more 

 conspicuous. The margins of the feathers are ratlier more rusty. 



This species is readily distinguisliable from the other American Spizellas, 

 except S. breivcri (which see), in the dark streaks and median a,shy stripe on 

 the crown, the paler tints, the dark line on the side of the chin, etc. 



Habits. The Clay-colored Bunting was first discovered by Eichardsou, 

 and described by Swainson, in tlie Fauna Bor.-Amer. The only statement 

 made in regard to it is that it visited the Saskatchewan in considerable num- 

 bers, frequented the farm-yard at Carlton House, and was in all respects as 

 familiar and confiding as tlie common House Bparrow of Europe. 



The bird given by Mr. Audubon as tlie pallida has been made by jMr. 

 Cassin a different species, S. hi-eurri, and the species the former gi-\-es in his 

 seventh volume of the Birds of America as Emhcriza shattutki is really tliis 

 species. It was found by Mr. Audulion's party to the Yellowstone quite 

 abundant throughout the country bordering upon the Upper ^lissouri. It 

 seemed to be particularly partial to the small valleys found, here and there, 

 along the numerous ravines running from the interior and between the hills. 

 Its usual demeanor is said to greatly resemble that of the common Chipping 

 Sparrow, and, like tliat bird, it has a very monotonous ditty, whicli it seems to 

 delight to repeat constantly, while its mate is more usefully employed in the 

 duties of incubation. When it was approached, it would dive and conceal 

 itself amid the low bushes around, or would seek one of the large clusters of 

 wild roses so abundant in that section. The nest of this species is men- 

 tioned as having been usually placed on a small horizontal branch seven or 

 eight feet from the ground, and occasionally in the broken and hollow 

 branches of trees. These nests are also stated to have been formed of 

 slender grasses, but in so slight a manner as, with their circular lining of 

 horse or cattle liair, to resemble as much as possible the nest of the conmion 

 socialis. The eggs were five in number, and are described as being blue 

 with reddish-brown spots. These birds were also met with at the Great 

 Slave Lake region by Mr. Kennicott, in the same neighborhood by B. E. 



