216 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



it and M. Hcermanni entitles it to distinction. It resembles most nearly the 

 Eastern M. vidodia. In habits and song there is no appreciable difi'erence 

 from tliose of the other species. A nest Ijuilt in a willow thicket was com- 

 posed of bark, fine twigs, and grass, lined with hair. The eggs are bluish- 

 wliite, blotclied and streaked with reddish-brown, measm-ing 0.7-i X 0.55 

 inch. 



Melospiza Lincolnii, Audubon. 

 LINCOLN'S FINCH. 



Fiingilla Li'ncoinn, AuDunON, Orn. Biog. II. 18.34, 539 ; pi. 19.3. — Ncttall, M.in. I. 2d cil. 

 1840,569. — Paic(m Lincolnii, AuDvaos, Syn. 18.39,113. Ib. Birds Amcr. IIL 1841, 

 116; pi. 177. — Melospiza Lincolnii, BxiRD, P. K. Rep. IX. Birds, 482. — Kennerlt, 

 X. iv. 29. 



Sp. Cn.^R. Crown chestnut, witli a metlian and two lateral or superciliary ash-colored 

 stripes ; each feather above streaked centrally with black. Back with narrow streaks of 

 black. Beneath white, with a maxillary stripe curving round behind the ear coverts, a 

 well-defined band across the breast, extending down the sides, and under tail coverts, 

 brownish yellow. The maxillary stripe margined above and below with Unes of black 



spots. The throat, upper part of breast, and sides of body, with streaks of black, smallest 

 in the middle of the former. There is a chestnut stripe back of the ear, streaked with 

 black. Tlie pectoral bands are sometimes paler. Length, 5.75; extent, 7.50; wing, 

 2.G0. Iris and bill brown ; feet brownish-wdiite. 



Hab. United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific ; and south through ]\Iexico to 

 Gu.atemala. 



Flocks of this species passed near San Diego on their way northward 

 about March 2.5th, keeping during the day among the grass, rather shy and 

 silent. They had indeed very much the same habits as a Passcrcuhis, in 

 which genus Bonaparte puts them. Tliey differ much in their migratory 

 habits, gregariousncss, and general form from other irehspizaft, and will 

 probably merit the generic distinction suggested by Baird for this and an 



