50 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



no great importance. However, in the large series examined, there is no 

 specimen of iliaca at all aberrant, and none approach in the slightest 

 degree to any of the other forms. There can be no doubt whatever of the 

 specific identity of the three forms presented under section " B," as is plainly 

 shown by specimens of intermediate characters. These western forms are 

 parallels of the western race of Melospiza ; schistacca representing M. fallax, 

 mcgarhynckus the M. hcermanni, and towiisendi the M. guttata or nifina. 



Passerella iliaca, Swainson. 



FOX-COLOKED SPAKKOW. 



Fringilla iliaca, Meref.m. " Beitr. zui- besond. Gesch. der Vogel, II, 1786-87, 40, pi. x." 

 — Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 923. — AuD. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 58 ; V, 512, pi. criii. — 

 Ib. Syn. 1839. — Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 139, pi. clxxxri. Passerella iliaca, Sw. 

 Birds, II, 1837, 288. —BoN. List. 1838. — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 477. — Baird, Birds 

 N. Ara. 1858, 488. — Dall & Baxxister, Tr. Cli. Ac. I, 1869, 285. — Samuels, 325. 

 Fringilla ni/a, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 53, pi. xxiv, f. 4. — Licht. Verz. 1823, 

 No. 248. Fringilla ferruginea, WiLSON, Catalogue, VI, 1812. — Hall's ed. Wilson, 

 II, 255. " Emberiza praicnsis, Vieill.," Gray. 



Sp. Char. General aspect of upper parts foxy-red, the ground-color and the sides of 



neck being ashy ; the interscapular feathers each 

 with a large blotch of fox-red ; this color glossing 

 the top of head and nape ; sometimes faintly, 

 sometimes more distinctly; the rump unmarked; 

 the upper coverts and surface of the tail continu- 

 ous fox-red. Two narrow white bands on the 

 wing. Beneath, with under tail-coverts and 

 axillars, clear white, the sides of head and of 

 throat, the jugulum, breast, and sides of body, 

 conspicuously and sharply blotched with fox-red; 

 more triangular across breast, more linear and 

 darker on sides. Sometimes the entire head 

 above is continuously reddish. First quill rather 

 less than fifth. Hind toe about equal to its claw. 

 Length, 7.50; wing, 3..50; tail, 2.90; tarsus, .87; 

 middle toe, without claw, .67; hind claw, .35. 

 Hab. Eastern North America to the Mississippi, to the north along valley of tlie Mac- 

 kenzie, almost or quite to the Arctic coast, and down the valley of the Yukon to the 

 Pacific. Breeds throughout the interior of British America. 



In summer, the ash is more predominant above ; in winter, it is overlaid 

 more or less by a wash of rufous, as described above. 



The young plumage we have not seen. The P. obscura, Yerrill,' may be 

 referrible to it. 



1 Passerella obscura, Verrili,, Pr. Best. N. H. See. IX, Dec. 1862, 143 (Anticosti). (Type 

 in Museum Comp. Zoiil., Cambridge.) 



"Size somewhat smaller than that of P. iliaca. Legs and wings a little shorter in proportion. 

 Claws less elongated. Bill somewhat shorter, thicker, and less acute. Color above rufous-brown, 



y^?^^ 



Passerella townsendi. 



