472 



xoRTii A^rE^JCA^' rirds. 



Geococcyx californianus, Pjaird. 



PAISANO; KOAD-HTJNNEE ; CHAPAEEAL COCK. 



Saurnthera cali/ornuiiiu, Lksson, ( onijilein. Bulf. \l, 1829, 420. — Bott.\, Ann. du Mus. 

 1835, 121, pi. (Cape St. Lucas to San Francisco). Geococq/x variegata, W.\gler, Isis, 

 V, 1831, 524. Saurothcra bottic (Blaixville>, Lessox, Traite d'Orn. I, 1831, 145. 

 DiploptcTus vialicns (hlCKT.) BoiE, Isis, 1831, 541 (no description). Geococcyx viaiicus, 

 H.iRTLAUB, Rev. Zobl. 1844, 215. — M'Call, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ill, July, 1847, 234. — 

 Bon. Consp. 1850, 97. — Ib. Con.sp. Zygod. in Aten. Ital. 1854, 5. — Heek.manx, J. 

 A. N. Sc. Ph. 2d series, II, 1853, 270. — Newbekry, Zobl. Cal. and Oregon Route, 

 91, P. R. R. Rep. VI, 1857. Saurotliera marginaia, Ka0p, Isis, 1832, 991 ; tab. xxvi 

 (fig. of head and foot). Leptostoma lonz/icauda, Swainson, Birds, II, 1837, 325. — 

 Gajibel, Pr. A. N. S. I, 1843, 263. Geococcyx mcxicanus, Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2d 

 series, I, 1849, 215 (not of Gmelin). — Cassik, 111. I, 1855, 213, pi. x.xxvi. — Sclater, 

 Catal. 324, 1862. — Heerm. X, S, 59 (nest). Geococcyx californianus, Baird, Birds 

 N. Am. 1858, 73. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 368. 



Sp. Char. Tail very long; the lateral feathe* much shortest. An erectile crest on 

 the head. A bare skin around and behind the eye. Legs very long and stout. 



All the feathers of the upper parts and -wings of a dull metallic olivaceous-green, 

 broadly edged with white near the end. There is, however, a tinge of black in the green 

 along the line of white, which itself is suffused with brown. On the neck the black pre- 

 ponderates. The sides and under surface of the neck have the white feathers streaked 



Geococrtfz californianus. 



centrally with black, next to which is a brownish suffusion. The remaining under parts 

 are whitish, immaculate. Primary quills tipped with white, and with a median band 

 across the outer webs. Central tail-feathers olive-brown ; the others clear dark green, 

 all edged, and (except the central two) broadly tipped with white. Top of the head 

 dark blackish-blue. Length, 20 to 2.3 inches ; wing, about 6..50 ; tail, 12 tn 1.3. Size 

 generally very variable. 



Hab. Middle Texas, New Mexico, and California to Central Mexico. Seen as far 

 north as Fort Reading, California, and Fort Chadbourne, Texas. Localities: Southeast 

 Texas (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 466, resident) ; W. Arizona (CorES, P. A. N. S. 1866, 57) ; 

 Cape St. Lucas (Xantus) ; Kioway Agency (Dr. PAI,^r^;R). 



