252 SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



patch froLii the Ijill below the eye and along the side of the head ; a juirular crescent anil 

 the tail feathers, black. The innermost of the latter like the back. A frontal baml ex- 

 tending backwards over the c)-e, and under parts, with outer edge of wings and tail. 



Adult. 



white. Chin and throat yellow. Length of Pennsylvania specimens, 7.75; wing, 4.50 ; 

 tail, 3.25 ; bill above, 0.22. 



Var. chrysnlmna, smaller and lighter colored. Length, 7.25; e.\tent, 12.75 : wing, 4.25. 

 Iris brown ; bill black, bluish below ; feet black. 



Young. 



Ilah. E-\-er}-whcre on the prairies and desert plains of North America. The Atlantic 

 States in winter. 



According to Professor Baird, specimens from west of the Sierra Ne\ada 

 are as dark or darker colored than Eastern ones, wliile tlie difference in size 

 is not constant. The variety is confined to the more arid and hot plains of 

 the interior. 



I found these birds in considerable flocks about Fort JMoja^'e, about tlie 

 end of February, but tiU of them seemed to liave left the valley by the end 

 of March. About May 29th I found numbers of them towards tlie sum- 

 mits of the Pro\'idence liange of mountains, west of the valley, and about 



