242 



SINGIX(! BIRDS— OSCIXES. 



tims, if at Fort Colville) Ituilt " on top of a stiunp, ronud wliicli yoim" 

 slioots had grown like a fringe, completely hiding it from the sharpest 

 eye.' 



It contained six eggs. 



Pipilo megalonyx, Baird. 



THE CALIFOKNIA GEOUND-EOBIN. 



P. mrijnioiii/r, Baird, P. Ti. l!cp. IX. Binls, .iI5. — Kexxkrlv, X. iv. .30. — IIeermanx, X. 

 vi. .51. — Baird, Birds N. Anicr. jil. Ixxiii. (feet cntiivly too large). — Coues, Vt: A. N. 

 Sc. 1866, 89. 



Sp. Cii.\I{. Differs from P. Oregonus in much greater amount of white on the wings 

 and scapulars, the spots oblong. Outer edge of outer web of external tail feathers white, 

 sometimes confluent with that at tij) of tail. Concealed white spots on feather of side of 

 neck. Claws enormously large, the hinder longer than its digit ; the hind toe and claw 



reaching to the middle of the middle claw, which, with its toe, is as long as, or longer 

 than, the tarsus. Inner lateral claw reaching nearly to the middle of the middle claw. 

 Length, 8.00 ; extent, 10.50; wing, ;140 ; tail, 4.25 ; hind toe and daw, 0.90. Iris red ; 

 bill bhaek ; feet pale brown. 



Ildlj. California, and across through the valleys of Gila ami Rio Grande, eastward. 



This is a common and resident species in all tlie lower districts of Cali- 

 fornia, and a considerable distance itp in the mountains. It also inhabits 

 Catalina Island, tliongli it has such short wings tliat a flight of sixteen miles 

 to tlie main-land would be a rare event for this species. I also found a few 

 of tliem on San C'lemente Island, twenty-two miles from Catalina, but not 

 on the others. Thougli found in New Mexico, I liave seen none in the 

 barren district between the Coast Eange and the Colorado, nor in the ^'al- 

 ley of that river. 



Their favorite residence is in thickets and oak ^ro^•es, wliere they live 



