146 SIXGIXG BIRDS— OSCIXES. 



Female, olive-greon above, yt-lluwisli lniu-atli : tlio feathers nf tlie interscapular repion 

 dusky, margined witli (ili\e. Tlie wings and tail rather dark brown, the former with the 

 same marks as the male. Length, 7.50 ; e.xtent, 11. oil : wing, 3.7.5 ; tail, 2.85. Iris brown; 

 bill horn-color, greenish below : feet lead-color. 



Hnb. From the L'p])er Missouri to the Pacific, south to Mexico. 



I noticed the arrival of thi.s beautiful Tiird, near San Diego, in small 

 parties on the 24:th of April, and they reach Puget's Sound about ]\Iay 15th. 

 The males come some time in ad\'ance, clothed in tlieir full suuuner livery, 

 and are more bold and conspicuous thtm tlie females, which are rarely seen 

 without close watching. They frequent trees, feeding on insects and lierries, 

 and singing much in the same manner as the other species, and more like 

 the robin and grosbeaks than any other birds. 



I saw none of them in the Coast Range towards Santa Cruz, or at Santa 

 Barbara, in summer, and suppose they must seek the higher and more 

 northern regions at that season. Their nest and eggs have not been de- 

 scribed. I foimd tliis species in September, 1860, in the higher Eocky 

 Mountains, near the sources of the Columbia, in lat. 47°, and they pi-oliably 

 remain until October within this State. In the fall the yoimg and old, all 

 in tlie same dull greenish plumage, associate in families, and feed on elder- 

 berries and other kinds, witliout that timidity which they have in spring. 

 Although found as far east as the Eocky JMountains, I saw none along the 

 Colorado Valley, probalily because they migrate more in the line of moun- 

 tain ranges. 



Family FEINGILLID^, The Fixches. 



Ch.VK. Primaries nine. Bill Aery short, abruptly conical and robust. 

 Commissure strongly angulated at base of bill. Tarsi scutellate anteriorly, 

 but the sides with two undivided jilates meeting behind along the median 

 line, as a sharp posterior ridge. 



SuB-F.uiiLY FRIXCILLIX.E. 



Chae. Wings very long and much pointed ; generally one third longer 

 than the more or less forked tail ; first quill usually nearly as long as, or 

 longer than the second. Tertiaries but little longer, or equal to the 

 secondaries, and always much exceeded by the primaries. Bill very vari- 

 able in .shape and size, the upper mandible, however, as broad as the lower ; 

 nostrils rather more lateral than usual ; and always more or less concealed 

 by a series of small bristly feathers applied along the base of the upper 



