132 



NORTH AMERICAN lilRDS. 



considerably longer than the rest. The tail is long and considerably 

 graduated, the outer featlier half au inch shortest; the feathers broad 

 and (ibtusely pointed, the corners rounded. 



The extent of the chestnut 

 of the crown varies somewhat ; 

 more extended probably in the 

 males. Tlie region on the side 

 ol' the head, adjoining the 

 nostrils, is whitish ; the small 

 feathers under the eye are 

 spotted w'itli the same. The 

 posterior outline of the ash of 

 the breast is much less sharp- 

 ly defined than the anterior. 



Specimens vary in the 



brightness of the oUve abo\e, 



Pipito rhiomrus wliich IS ncver as pure as that 



of the wings and tail. The olive of the tail, too, is darker than that of the 



wings. 



A very young bird (1,896) has the whole under parts dull white, streaked 

 and sj)otted on the sides of the throat and on the breast with dark brown. 

 The crown and back are also thickly spotted. In 5,734 the ash of the breast 

 has made its appearance ; the middle of the belly is white, spotted ; 

 the chin white, encircled by 

 spots. The spots above are re- 

 stricted to near the head, and 

 there is a small central patch 

 of chestnut on the crown. 



No. 1,896 is the original 

 " Green-tailed Sparrow " killed 

 July 12, 1834, by Towusend, 

 and described in an extract of a 

 letter to Mr. Audubon, published 

 page 336 of Vol. \'. of the Or- 

 nithological Biography. '^p"" f*'"""'" 



Habits. Dr. Kenuerl}', who procured a specimen of this bird at San Eliza- 

 rio, Tex., December 16, states that it was obtained with some difficulty. For 

 several successive days it was found in the same place, occupj-iug a small 

 clump of very thick weeds. When aroused, which was only accomplished with 

 some elibrt, its flight was short, rapid, and decidedly irregular. Its motions 

 on the ground were very awkward This sjjecies was found by Mr. Eidg- 

 way very generally distributed throughout the fertile mountain portions of 

 the interior. It was not seen by him in California, and was firet met with 

 in the ra%ines at the base of the ea.stern slope of the Sierra Xevada. On the 



