448 



U. S p. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS— ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL EEPOET. 



In autumn the dark streaks are less sharply defined, and there is a tinge of very pale cinna- 

 mon on the breast. 



The form of this species differs considerably from that of Melospiza melodia. The bill is less 

 sinuated along the edge of the mandible. The wing is much longer, and more pointed ; the 

 first quill nearly as long as the fourth ; the second and third equal, and longest. The tail 

 feathers are acuminate, pointed, and quite stiff; the toes are shorter ; the claws rather straighter. 



I find a good deal of difference in specimens before me, but I am unable to say how important 

 these are for want of a sufficient number of eastern skins to determine the limits of variation 

 in the species. Western specimens, however, apjjear larger, grayer, and with fewer and 

 narrower streaks on the breast ; the legs in some appear longer ; the bill more slender. The 

 colors generally are more gray. Young birds of the western variety are marked almost exactly 

 like the adults, except that they are paler above ; the feathers edged broadly with light grayish. 

 Without being assured that there is a difference of species, it may be as well to recognize a 

 western variety conjinis, characterised as grayer than the eastern species, legs and wings longer, 

 bill more slender and straighter, streaks on the breast narrower. 



List of specimens. 



Catal. 

 No. 



10264 



713 



1047 



19 



10147 



10146 



5408 



5407 



6219 



5406 



54 .'4 



5405 



5714 



57ia 



5712 

 5711 

 7085 

 8943 

 8944 

 8945 

 894i2 

 8947 

 8796 



4344 

 eS20 

 6331 

 C«9 



Sex iind 



age. 



9 



ooQ 

 Q 



s 



Q 



9 

 <? 

 <? 

 9 

 9 

 9 



o 



9 

 9 

 (? 

 9 



Red river, Min 



Union county, Illinois,. 



Carlisle, Fa 



do 



Washington 



do 



do 



Yellowstone, Neb 



do 



Fort Union, Neb 



do 



do 



Yellowstone river. Neb, 

 Pole creek, K,T 



When col- 

 lected. 



April 

 Sept, 

 June 

 April 



July 



Aug, 

 July 



.do,. 



Medicine Butte c'k,K,T, 

 do 



Blnck Hills 



Black Hill«,Neb, 

 do 



Loup rorkofPlaite. 



do 



do 



Near Laramie 



Aug, 



Aug, 

 Aug. 

 July 

 Sept, 

 Aug, 

 July 



Aug. 



Fort Laramie . . . . . 

 Tntnaulipafi, Mcx . 



20,1857 



8. 1842 



3. 1843 

 15,1842 



do 



do 



19,1854 



do 



11,1833 

 19,1856 



do 



do 



4, 1856 

 do 



7, 1856 

 25,1856 

 21,1857 

 24, 1857 

 18,1857 

 29,1857 



do 



do 



26,1857 



do 



Unca Grande, .Mi;x 



Knpln, Mex 



Tijon Valley, (,'ol 



do , 



Fori Sieilicaom, W. T 



Sept. 8,1857 

 Aug. —,1853 



Mar. —,1853 

 Mar, —,1855 

 do 



Whence obt-tined. 



N. W, University., 



do 



S. F. Baird 



do 



Wm, M, Baird 



do 



do 



Lt. G, K, Warren.. 



do 



Gov. Stevens 



Lt. G. K, Warren,, 



do 



do 



Lt. Bryan 



do 



do 



do 



Dr.W, A,IIararaond 



Lt. Warren 



do 



do 



do 



do 



W. M, Magraw .... 



do ,.. 



Lt, Ooucli, 



do 



Major Kniory 



do 



Lt. Williuntsrm 



, lo 



Dr. Q. Siickley 



Orig'l 

 No, 



191 

 260 

 223 

 303 

 54 



169 



190 

 56 



Collected by- 



R. Kennicott. . 



J. C, MeGuire , 

 lo 



Dr, Hajden. 



Dr. Suckley , 

 Dr, Hayden . 

 do 



do 



W. S, Wood, 



do . ... 



do 



do 



Dr. Ilaydcn 



do 



do 



do 



do 



Di. J, G. Cooper, 



Dr, Kcnncrly .. 



lo 



Dr. llecrinanii, 

 do 



Length, 



Stretch 

 of wings. 



4,50 



6.00 

 6.50 

 6,00 



6,25 



6.25 

 6,75 

 6,75 

 6,00 

 6.40 

 6,50 



7,251 



9,00 



10.37 

 10,87 

 10,50 



Wing, 



3,25 

 3.50 

 3,25 



11.50 

 10,50 

 10,75 

 10,25 

 10. V5 

 10,50 



1U.12 

 9,00 



3.25 

 2.75 

 3.75 

 3,25 

 3.25 

 3.50 



3.25 

 3.00 



3,75 



Remarks. 



Iris dark brown. 

 Iris dark brown . 



Iris brown . 

 ,...do 



Iris br'n ; bill black 

 and (Icsh color ; 

 feet gray 



Iris brown ; hill and 

 feet flesh color, 



Kyes dark ; upper 

 mandible slate cti- 

 lor ; lower lighier ; 

 feet light brown.. 



...do do .... 



