FRINGILLID^E — THE FIKCHES. 27 



Tlie above description is of a specimen in worn summer pluma>ie, when 

 the markings have not the sharp definition seen in the; autumnal plumage. 

 The autunmal plumage is as follows : Gruuud-culor above gravish-olive, 

 outer surface of wings, with the crown, more rufous ; crown with nari-ow, 

 and dorsal region with broad, stripes of black, the latter witli scarcely a 

 perceptible rufous suffusion ; crown \\-ith a distinct median stripe of asliy. 

 Streaks on jugulum, etc., broader than in the type, and with a sliglit rufous 

 suffusion. Wing, 2.!^0 ; tail, 2.35 ; bill from nostril .31, its depth .22 ; 

 tarsus .74 ; middle toe without claw, .6U. 



The type of Melonpiza gouldi resembles the last, and differs only in havin" 

 a more distinct rufous suffusion to the black markings ; the measurements 

 are as follows : Wing, 2.20; tail, 2.35; bill, .33 by .23; tarsus, .73; middle 

 toe without claw, .o'J. 



This is probably a dwarfed race of the common species, the very small 

 size being its chief distinctive character. The colors are most nearly like 

 those of heermanni, luit are considerably darker, caused by an expansion of 

 the black and contraction of the rufous markings. The pattern of colora- 

 tion is precisely the same as in the other races. The j)reseut Ijird appears 

 to be peculiar to the coast region of California, the only specimens in tlie 

 collection being from the neighljorhood of San Francisco. 



Habit.S. Of the history, distributiou, and general habits of this species, 

 nothing is known. It w'as found at Petaluma, Cal, by Emanuel Samuels, 

 and described in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History in 

 1858. The following description of the nest and eggs of this bird, in the 

 Smithsonian collection, has been kindly furnished me by Mr. Ridgway. 



Nests elaborate and sj'mmetrical, cup-shaped, composed of thin grass- 

 stems, but externally chiefly of grass-blades and strips of thin inner bark. 

 Diameter about 3.50 inches ; internal diameter 2.00, and internal depth 1.50 ; 

 external, 2.00. Egg measures .78 by .62 ; regularly ovate in shajie ; ground- 

 color, greenish-white ; this is thickly sprinkled with purjjlish and livid ashy- 

 brown, the specks larger, and somewhat coalescent, around the larger circum- 

 ference. (3553, San Francisco, Cal., J. Hepburn.) 



Melospiza melodia, Mir. guttata, Baied. 



OREGON SONG SPARKOW. 



Frmgilla cinerea, (Gm.) Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 22, pi. ccc.xc. — Ib. Syn. 1S39, 119.— 

 Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1811, 1-io, pi. clxx.wii. Passerella cincrea, Bp. List, 1839. — Ib. 

 Conspectus, 1850, 477. Fringi/Ia (Passerclla) guttata, NuTTALL, Man. I, (2d ed.,) 1840, 

 581. Zonolrichia guttata, Gameel, J. A. TS. Sc. I, Dec. 1847, 50. Melospiza rufiiia, 

 Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 480. — Cooper & Suckley, 204. — Dall & Bannister, 

 Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1859, 285. — Cooper, Oni. Cal. I, 214. 



Sp. Char. Bill .=!lender. Similar in general appearance to M. melodia, but darker and 

 much more rufous, and witliout any blackish-brown streaks, or grayish edges of the 



