182 BULLETIN ")(), UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



bh. Wing, tail, and tarsus longer, bill more slender, color grayer above, withduf^ky 

 streaks nsually narrower, those on chest, etc., not so dark; wing averaging 

 83.57, tail 65.79, tarsus 21.59, depth of bill 7.62 in male, 80.01, 61.98, 21.34, 

 and 7.62 in female. (Rock Mountain plateau district.) 



Pooecetes gramineus confinis (p. 184) 



oa. Smaller (wing averaging less than SO. 01 in male, less than 76.20 in female) ; 



coloration browner above, di-stinctly buffy beneath. ( Pacific coast district of 



United States. ) Pooecetes gramineus affinis ( p. 186) 



POOECETES GRAMINEUS GRAMINEUS (Gmelin). 

 VESPER SPARROW. 



Adulf.'^ (.vrviv.y al/'h/). — Above li^ht grayish brown (hair ])rown) con- 

 spicnoush' .streaked with black, the streaks broadest on ])ack, less dis- 

 tinct on rump; lesser wing-coverts cinnamon or russet, with a dusky 

 (mostly concealed) wedge-shaped central space; Avings otherwise and 

 tail dusky, the feathers edged with light grayish brown, especialh' the 

 larger wing-coverts and secondaries, the former (middle and greater 

 coverts) indistinctly tipped with pale dull bufiy or buffy whitish, form- 

 ing indistinct narrow l)ands; outermost tail-feather largely white, 

 this involving most of the outer web and the terminal half, approxi- 

 mately, of the inner web next the shaft, the dusky extending along 

 the innermost (longitudinal) half within half an inch, or less, of the 

 tip; superciliaiy region light grayish brown or l)rownish gray nar- 

 rowly and indistinctly streaked with dusky; auricular region lu'owner, 

 margined above and below 1)y a postocular and a rictal streak of dusky 

 brownish; a white or buffy white malar stripe margined below by a 

 series of dusky streaks along each side of throat; under parts dull 

 white, more or less tinged with pale buffy on chest, sides, and Hanks, 

 where streaked with dusky; under tail-coverts immaculate; maxilla 

 dusky brownish, mandible much paler (piidvish or lilaceous in life); 

 iris brown; legs and feet pale brownish. 



Young. — Essentially similar to adults, Init markings less sharply 

 defined; scapulars and interscapulars broadly edged with pale buffy 

 grayish, and ground color of under parts rather grayish white than 

 buffy. 



Adidt ;/?y//r.— Length (skin.s), 139.19-150.11 (1-11:.27); wing, 76.71- 

 83.82 (81.03); tail, 58.67-66.04 (61.21); exposed culmen, 10.67-12.19 

 (11.18); depth of bill at base, 7.87-8.89 (8.38); tarsus, 20.32-22.10 

 (21.08); middle toe, 13.72-15.24 (14.48).^ 



Adult /hncf I e.— Length (skins), 134.62-149.10(140.46); wing, 72.90- 

 81.28 (77.47); tail, 55.12-61.98 (58.93); exposed culmen, 10.41-11.68 

 (10.92); depth of l)ill at base (three specimens), 7.62-8.13 (7.87); tarsus, 

 20.07-21.34 (20.57); middle toe, 13.21-15.24 (13.97).' 



^ Fourteen specimens. '^ Thirteen specimens. 



