210 SIXGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



Spizella atrigulai'is, Tabat^is. 



THE BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW. 



Sjnnites atrignhris, Cabanis, Mus. Ilciii. 1851, 13,1. — .S/xW/a atriguJaris, Baied, Birds N. 



Amcr. 1858, 476. — Coues, Pr. Ac. N. Sc. 1866, 87. 

 Stnithus ntrimcnhdis, Coucii, Pr. Ac. N. Sc. 1854, (,1 . — Sjiizdla n. s., CoCES, Ibis. 1865, 



118, 164. 

 Sphdla rami, Baird, MSS. — ConES, Pr. Ac. N. Sc. 186C, 88. 



Sp. Char. Adult male. Tail elongated, deeply forked, and divaricated ; general color 

 bluisli-asli, paler beneath and turning to white on the middle of the belly. Interscapular 

 region yellowish-rusty, streaked with black. Forehead, loral region, and side of head as 

 for as eyes, chin, and upper part of throat, black. IMouth and tail feathers very dark 



X 



Arhdl. 



brown, edged with ashy. Edges of coverts like the back. Bill red. Length, 5.50 ; wing, 

 2.50 ; tail, 3.00. Iris black ; legs and feet brownish black. 



Young birds, and perhaps the female, without the black marks on the face. 



Hah. Fort Whipple, Arizona ; Cape St. Lucas, and the highlands of Mexico to the 

 Isthmus of Tchuantepec. 



Yoiiit^ 



This .species is but little known, and is probably not very abundant in its 

 area of distribution. According to Dr. Coues, it reaches the vicinity of 

 Prescott, Arizona, in April, and remains till October, collecting towards 

 autumn in small Hocks. The note is said to be more sweet and melodious 

 than in any other of the genus. Nothing is known of the nesting of the 

 species, though it is quite probable that the eggs resemble those of S. jjusilla. 



