462 SYSTEMA riC SYNOPSIS. — PA SSERES — OSCIXES. 



P. a'berti. (To Lieut. J. W. A])ert.) Abert's Towhee. Gray Towhee. Somewhat 

 similar to foregoiug species of this section of the geuus, but entirely distinct ; a very large, 

 long-tailed form, with no decided markings anywhere excepting the dark face. Adult ^ 9 : 

 Above, grayish-brown, with a slight fulvous tiuge ; wings and tail darker and purer 

 brown; tail-feathers slightly rusty-tipped. Below as above, but paler, by dilution with a 

 peculiar pale pinkish-brown shade (like that on sides of an Oregon Snowbird), particularly 

 on throat ; crissuui more cinnamon-brown ; lores and chin blackish. Bill and feet brown -^ 

 under mandible paler than upper. Young more rusty. There is much individual variation 

 in shade, but this large dingy whole-colored bird with dark face is always easily recognized. 

 Length 8.50-9.00; wing 3.40-3.90; tail 4.50-5.00; tarsus LOO-I.IO. New Mexico and 

 Arizona, abundant, especially in the valley of the Gila and Colorado, where we find it a wild 

 and shy inhabitant of thickets and chaparral; N. to Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. Nest in 

 bushes, loose and bulky ; eggs 3-4, LOO X 0.75, bluish-white, sparingly speckled and scrawled 

 with blackish-browu, chiefly about the large end. 



OREOSPI'ZA. (Gr. opos, oros, gen. opeos, oreos ; a-niCa, sjnza, a fringilline bird, perhaps 

 tlie Chaflinch.) Ilehited to Pipilo, especially to the section of that genus which coutaius 

 greenish species : smaller than any of the foregoing Towhees; best recognized by the pattern 

 of coloration, which is olivaceous, with yellow under the wing, rufous cap, and white throat 

 in ashy surroundings, the latter feature strikingly as in Zonotrichia albicollis — indeed it is not 

 easy to see how Oreospiza difi'ers in form from Zonotrichia. One western species. {Pipilo, 

 section III. of Key, 2d-4th eds. 1884-90; Oreospiza Ridgw. Man. 2d ed. 1896, p. 605; 

 A. 0. U. Suppl. List, Auk, Jan. 1897, p. 129.) 



O. chloru'ra. (Gr. ^apos, chloros, green; ovpa, aura, tail.) Green-tailed Towhee. 

 Blandixg's Finch. Adult ^ 9 • Above, grayish-green, sometimes quite olive-gray, at 

 others bright olive-green ; exposed surfaces ofwiugsand tail with brighter greenish edgings. 

 Edge of wing and under coverts and axillaries bright yellow. Crown rich chestnut ; forehead 

 blackish, with a whitish loral spot on each side. Chin and throat pure white, bounded by 

 dusky maxillary stripes, as sharply contrasted with dark surroundings as in the White-throated 

 Sparrow. Whole breast and sides of head, neck, and body fine clear-ash, or slate-gray, ob- 

 scured on flanks and crissum with brownish, fading to white on belly — completing the 

 resemblance to Zonotrichia albicollis. Bill blackish-plumbeous ; feet brown, toes ilarker. 

 Length about 7.00 ; extent 9.50 ; wing 2.80-3.20 ; tail 3.40-3.70 ; tarsus 0.95. Less mature 

 birds have the chestnut cap veiled by gray tips of the feathers. Youug : Crown like back. 

 Upper parts dull brown tinged with greenish in places, streaked throughout with dusky, but 

 wings and tail as in adult ; under parts forecasting pattern of adults, but dusky-streaked 

 throughout. This stage is brief; birds resemble adults after first fell moult. Western U. S., 

 especially S. Rocky Mt. region and aci-oss the Great Basin to Coast Range of Cal.; N. to Wy- 

 oming, Montana, Idaho, and eastern Oregon; S. in Lower California and Mexico; migratory; 

 winters over our border. A sprightly inhabitant of shrubbery ; nest in bush or on the ground ; 

 eggs 0.90 X 0.68, pale greenish or grayish-white, freckled all over with bright reddish-brown, 

 usually aggregating or wreathing at the larger end. (Pipilo chlorurus Baird, 1 858, and of most 

 later authors, as of all former eds. of the Key. Oreospiza chlorura Ridgw. 1896; A. 0. U. 

 Suppl. List, Auk, Jan. 1899, p. 121, No. 592* 1.) 



ARKE'3IONOPS. (Gr. dppT)fia>v, arhremon, s{)eechless, silent ; ayjr, oj^s, face, aspect: i. e. re- 

 sembling the S. Am. genus Arremon.) Bill not notable in any way. Tarsus exceeding mid- 

 dle toe and claw; lateral toes short ; outer a little longer than inner; claw of neither reaching 

 base of middle claw; fore claws all small and weak; hind claw about as long as its digit. 

 Wings very short and much rounded ; 4th -7th primaries about equal and longest ; 2d as long 

 as 9th ; 1st equalling 3d from innermost secondary. Tail about as long as wings, much 

 rounded ; outer featlieis 0..50 shorter than middle ones ; all broad to their rounded ends. Color- 



