212 



SINGING BIRDS— OSCINES. 



Ioniser than the tcrtials, and ahnost the shortest of the primaries. Tail moderately long, 

 and consideralily graduated ; the leathers oval at the tips. Crown and baek similar in 

 color and streaked ; beneath thiekly streaked. Tail innuaeiilate. 



Melospiza Heermanni, Bated. 



THE CALIFOENIAN SONG-SPARROW. 



Mduspiza Ilcerinannl, Baied, P. I!. Ecp. IX. Birds, 478. Ib. Birds N. Amor. pi. 70, f. 1. 



Sp. Char. General tint of upper jiarts olivaeeoiis-brown, streaked with dark brown 

 and ashy-gray. The crown is brown, with a superciliary and median stripe of dull gray, 

 the former lighter ; nearly white anteriorly ; each feather of the crown with a narrow streak 

 of dark brown. Interscapulars dark brown in the centre, grayish on the margin. Paunp 

 grayer than upper tail coverts, both with obsolete dark streaks. There is a whitish max- 

 illary stripe, bordered above and below by one of dark brown, with a similar one from 



M Ilecrynaniii. 



behind the eye. The under parts are white ; the breast and sides of body and throat 

 streaked with dark brown. On the middle of the breast these marks are rather aggre- 

 gated so as to form a spot. No distinct white on tail or wings. Length, G.50 ; extent, 

 8 50; wing, 2.75 ; tail, 3.00. Iris brown; bill horn-brown, bluish below, edge and angle 

 yellow ; feet pale brown. 



llah. Caliibruia, from Mojavo River and San Diego to San Francisco. 



Melospiza Goiddii, Buinl, I'. E. Eep. IX. Birds, 1858, 479, and Biixls of N. 



