198 



SINGING RIUDS — OSCINES. 



I met with a few of this species wintering as far south as San Diego, 

 associating with Z. Gumhdii, hut much less familiar, as they did not come 

 about the liouse, but kept among tlie dense thickets. Tliey were at that 

 time silent, and thuugli I luive seen them north of the Coliimljia in May, I 

 never lieard tliem utter any song. 



According to Heermann, tliey sometimes breed in California, as he men- 

 tions tinding a nest near Sacramento. " It was composed of coarse stalks of 

 weeds, and lined internally with fine roots. The eggs, four in number, are 

 ashy-\\'hite, marked with lines of brown umber, sometimes appearing Ijlack 

 from the depth of their shade, and covered also with a few neutral tint 

 spots." 



I saw none of this species near the summit of tlie Sierra Xevada. 



Genus JUNCO, Wagler. 



Junco, Wagler, Isis, 1831. (Tyiic, Frinr/illa cinereu, Swainson.) 

 Niphnu, Audubon, Syn. 1839. (Type, Emherhu hjeinalis, Gmelik.) 



Gex. Cii.vr. Bill small, conical ; culmcn curvcJ at. the tip ; the lower jaw (jnite as 

 high as the up])er. Tarsus longer than the middle toe ; outer toe longer than the in- 

 ner, barely reaching to the base of the middle claw. Hind toe reaching as tar as the 

 middle of the latter ; extended toes reaching about to the middle of tlic tail. "Wings 

 rather short, reaching over the basal fourth of the exposed surface of the tail ; ]irimaries, 

 however, considerably longer than the nearly equal secondaries and tertials. The second 



J. Oregonus 



quill longest, the third to fifth successively but little shorter ; first longer than sixth, 

 much exceeding secondaries. Tail moderate, a little shorter than the wings ; slightly 

 emarginate and rounded. Feathers rather narrow, oval at the end. No streaks on 

 the head or body ; color above unitbrm on the head, l>ack, or rump, separately or on all 

 together. BeUy white ; outer tail feathers white. 



