244 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



Pipilo Abertii, Baird. 



ABERTS FINCH. 



Pipilo Ahcrtii, Baikd, Stansbury's Rqi. Great Salt Lake, Zoology, June, 18S2, 325 (New 

 Mexico). Ib. p. R. Kcp. IX. Birds, 516. — Kennerlt, X. iv. 30; pi. 30. — IIeer- 

 MANN, X. V. 15. — CouES, Pr. A. N. Sc. 1806, 90. — Kieneria Abertii, Bonaparte, 

 Comptes Rcndus, XL. 1855, 356. 



Sp. Char. General color of upper p.irts pale brownish or yellowish-red ; beneath 

 brighter, especially on the under coverts, palest on the middle of the belly. Sides of 



head anterior to eyes, and chin, dark brown. Bill yelluwish. Length, 9.25 ; e.Ktent, 11.75 ; 

 wing, 3.70 ; tail, 1.85. Iris chestnut; bill pale brown; feet dark brown. 



Ilab. Base of Rocky Mountains in New Mexico ; Valleys of the Gila and Colorado. 



This species is almost the exact counterpart in the Colorado Valley of 

 the F.fvscus, the only difference I noticed in habits heing a loud note of 

 alarm in this species unlike that of P. fiisais, Init remarkably similar to that 

 of two very distinct birds of the same valley, namely, Ccntv.rus uro^ruyialis 

 and Phamopcpla nitens. Like its congener, this species li\'es almost con- 

 stantly on the ground, but seems rather more gregarious, especially in 

 winter. 



About April 1st I found many of their nests, generally built in thorny 

 shrubs. They were composed of a flooring of coarse twigs or of green herbs, 

 and strongly interwoven witli strips of bark, grass, and leaves ; one bird hav- 

 ing taken ad\-antage of the recent introduction of horses into the vallty to 

 obtain a lining of horsehair for its nest. The eggs were in all cases only 

 three, bluish-white, with broA\n spots and streaks in a ring near the large 

 end, quite variable in number, and measuring 1.00 X 0.70 inch. One nest 

 was in a low mesquite-tree, another in a dense cluster of dead twigs hang- 

 ing from a Cottonwood. 



The time required for hatching was twelve or thirteen days, and in a fort- 



