IIELMINTHOPHAGA, 



111 



Specimens from the Youkon seem to show traces of hybridity \vilh 

 peregrina, one skin especially (27,326) in which the cheeks and 

 forehead are as pure gray as in loeregrHna, while all the other char- 

 acters are those of celata. This same apparent tendency to hybrid- 

 ism in Youkon specimens is seen in other species, as between Junco 

 hyemalis and oregonus, etc., and may be explained by the fact of this 

 region being in the boundary line of the breeding grounds of these 

 closely allied I'epresentative species. 



A specimen of celata, froni Georgia, shows no trace of orange in 

 the crown, and is much darker in color, and with larger bill than in 

 western ones. 



Mr. Audubon speaks of the H. celata as being common and gener- 

 ally distributed through the Eastern States, and breeding abundantly 

 in Maine, New Brunswick, etc. I have myself never seen or heard 

 of any specimens from east of the Mississippi Yalley, excepting a 

 few taken in Georgia and Florida, and near Philadelphia, and these 

 may belong to a different species. The Institution possesses one 

 specimen from Dane Co., Wisconsin. ^ 



Specimens are in the collection from many localities in the Pacific 

 region of the United States up to the northern boundary, and east 

 to the Rocky Mts. 



(27,325.) With eggs. (12,852.) This and the last the only specimens ia the collection from 

 east of the Missouri River. 



Helmintbophaga Tirginiae. 



Helminthopkaga virginise, Baird, Birds N. Am. under explanation of 

 plates, 1860, xi, pi. 79, fig. 1 (Fort Burgwyn, N. M.). 



Hab. Southern Rocky Mts. (middle province U. S.). 



Similar to H. riificapilla. Top and sides of head, back, and wings light 

 ashy plumbeous, with an almost imperceptible wash of olivaceous green ; 

 quills and tail feathers brown, edged with pure ashy plumbeous, tlie latter 

 indistinctly and narrowly margined with whitish internally and at the end. 

 Rump, with upper and lower tail covert bright yellow, in vivid contrast with 

 the rest of the body. Crown with a concealed patch of orange-brown. Rest 

 of under parts brownish-white, with indications of yellow from chin to breast, 

 12 ^pril,18^5, 



