. FRINGILLIDJ3 — THE FIXCIIES. 117 



outer web of tlie second to fifth primaries, and there is only a trace of white 

 near the eud, instead of having a conspicuous white edging from base to 

 near the tip. 



The outer web of the outer tail-feather, instead of being entirely white 

 for the exposed portion, is only very slightly edged with white ; usually 

 entirely black. The white at the end of the feathers is much more restricted, 

 and e.xtends only over the three outer feathers ; usually not reaching to the 

 shaft. The relations to var. mcgaloiuix have been given under the latter head. 



Habits. The Oregon Ground liobiu, so far as known, has a restricted 

 residence, the western pcjrtion of Oregon and Washington Territory during 

 the summer, and in the more northern portions of California. Its occurrence 

 in the latter State seems to liave escaped the notice of Dr. Cooper, though 

 he gives it conjecturally, having seen birds which he supposed to be of this 

 species in the higher Sierra Nevada. In its habits and notes Dr. Cooper 

 could observe no difference between this species and P. megalonyx, both hav- 

 ing the complaining mew, irom which they have obtained the name of Cat- 

 bird on that coast. 



Mr. J. K. Lord found a nest containing six eggs, which he supposed to be- 

 long to a bird of this species, at Fort Colville. It was built on the top of 

 a stump, round -which young shoots had grown like a fringe, completely hid- 

 ing it from the sharpest eye. jVIr. Hepburn met with it at Victoria. 



Dr. Cooper, in his Eeport on the Birds of Washington Territory, states 

 that tlie song of this species in spring, as it sits on a low bush enjoying the 

 sunshine, is like the final trill of the Eedwing, or the lisping faint notes of 

 tiie Cowbird. It is a constant resident of the Territory, but only frequents 

 the edge of the coast in winter. He also mentions finding it about thirty 

 miles south of San Francisco in autumn. Dr. Suckley met with it west 

 of the Cascade Mountains. 



In very many respects, in the opinion of Mr. Eidgway, the Oregon Ground 

 Eobin very closely resembles the common and familiar eastern " Chewink." 

 Tliere is noticeable in this western repre.sentative a peculiar manner of flight, 

 and a predilection for Tmshy places, closely corresponding with those of the 

 eastern bird. It differs, in the most marked manner, howe^•er, in its extreme 

 shyness, and in the total absence of the agreeable and striking notes of the 

 Towhee. The notes of this bird are, he states, of the rudest description, 

 and instead of being familiar and unsuspicious, it is one of the shyest and 

 most difficult to approach of any of the western birds. 



He found it quite plentiful about Sacramento, where it inhabits the thick- 

 ets in company with the western Chat. After crossing the Sierra Nevada it 

 was found more abundant still in the chaparrals of the sheltered ravines on 

 the eastern base of those mountains, as well as in the shrubbery of the river 

 valleys. During the winter it forsakes the former for the latter localities. 

 Eastwanl this species was found as far as the West Humboldt Mountains, 

 where tyjjical examples were obtained. 



