218 



SIXGIXG BIRDS— OSCIXES. 



ille of the tail. The •vving is very short, reaching only to the hase of the tail ; the longest 

 tertials do not exceed the secondaries, while both are not much short of the primaries ; 

 the outer three or four ([uills are graduated. The tail is considerably longer than the 

 wings ; it is much graduated laterally ; the feathers, though long, are peculiarly narrow, 

 linear, and elliptieally rolmded at. the ends. 



Color beneath jilain whitish or brownish, with a more or less distinct dusky line each 

 side of the chin. Above witli bmad obsolete brown streaks or blotches. Crown uniform, 

 or the feathers edged with lighter. Iiuiei- tail feathers with obsolete transverse dusky bars. 



A siiecies visits tlie Soutlieasteni States, and aiiotlier occurs from Texas 

 to Arizona. 



Peucsea iiificeps, C'assin. 



THE KED-CAPPED FINCH. 



AmmoHinmiis rujiceps, C.^ssix, Tr. A. N. Sc. "\'I. Oct. 1852, ISi (California). In. Illust. I. 

 V. 18.54, 13.5; pi. xx. — IliiERMAXx, P. R. Kcii. X. vi. 49. — PcHCfra rujiceps, Baird, P- 

 R. Ecp. IX. Birds, 486. 



Sp. Cii.\n. Above brownish-ash. The crown and nape uniibrni brownish-chestnut. 

 The interscapular region and neck with the feathers of this color, except around the mar- 

 gins. A superciliary ashy stripe, whiter at the base of the bill. Beneath, pale yellowish- 

 brown, or brownish-yellow, darker and more ashy across the breast and on the sides of 



the body ; middle of belly and chin lighter ; the latter with a well-marked line of black on 

 each side. Under tail coverts more rufous. Length, G.2.5 ; extent, 7.50 ; wing, 2.25 ; tail, 

 2.85. Iris brown ; bill horn-brown, bluish below ; feet whitish. 



Hah. Coast of California to Sierra Nevada; Catalina Island; San Francisco, rare ; 

 Cosumncs Kiver ; south to ]\Iexico. 



I have only met with tliis species on (.'atahna Island in June, a few 

 keeping about the low huslies, feeding on the ground, and ^-ery difficult 

 even to get a sight of. I heard them sing a few musical notes that remind- 

 ed me of those of the Cijanosinza. Tliey flew short distances only, and in 

 habits seemed more like the Mdnspiza. Their favorite resort, like that of 

 the Eastern species, may, perhaps, be pine woods. 



