69. SPIZELLA. 661 



N. Amer. B. 2nd ed. p. 380 (1884) ; Butcher, Auk, i. p. 175 (1884) 



Bicknell, Auk, ii. p. 145 (1885) ; Agersb. t. c. p. 280 ; Ridr/w. Auk, 



iii. p. 179 (1886). 

 Spizella domestica arizonas, Coues, Kei) N. Amer. B. 2nd ed. p. 380 



(1884) ; Beckh. Auk, ii. p. 14 (1885) ; Drew, t. c. p. 16 ; Ridgm. 



Auk, iii. pp. 179, 217 (1886> 

 Spizella socialis arizonse, A. O. U. Check-list, p. 273 (1886). 

 Spizella pusilla arenacea, Chadb. Auk, iii. p. 248 (1886). 



Adult male. General colour above pale rufous-brown, the feathers 

 of the back and mantle longitudinally streaked with black, and with 

 paler edges ; lower back and rump ashy grey ; lesser wing-coverts 

 dull ashy, washed with brown : median and greater coverts blackish, 

 externally pale reddish brown, whitish at the ends, forming a not 

 very pronounced double wing-bar ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, 

 and quills blackish hrown, edged with lighter brown, more ashy 

 on the primaries and inclining to pale rufous-brown on the inner 

 secondaries ; upper tail-coverts dusky brown, with ashy margins ; 

 tail-feathers dark brown, with ashy-brown margins : crown of head 

 uniform light chestnut or bay, slightly streaked with black on the 

 nape and hind neck, the latter being rather more ashy ; base of 

 forehead black, divided by a narrow line of greyish white ; lores 

 and a distinct eyebrow white, as also the feathers round the eye ; 

 ear-coverts light ashy grey, with a dusky-brown line along the upper 

 edge ; cheeks and sides of neck dull whitish ; throat, fore neck, and 

 chest very pale ashy ; breast and abdomen whiter ; sides of body 

 and flanks pale ashy brown ; thighs light ashy brown ; under tail- 

 coverts white, with concealed dusky centres ; under wing-coverts 

 and axillaries dull white, the former with dusky bases, those near 

 the edge of the wing dull ashy : quills below dusky, ashy whitish 

 along the inner edge : " bill dusky ; feet flesh-colour ; iris brown " 

 (Audubon). Total length 5*3 inches, culmen 0'4, wing 2*85, tail 2 - 3, 

 tarsus 0-6. 



Adult female. Similar to the male, but with a few more black 

 streaks on the rufous crown. Total length 5*3 inches, culmen 0-4, 

 wing 2 - 7, tail 2-25, tarsus 0*5o. 



I cannot see the least room for separating Spizella arizonce even 

 as a race from true S. socialis, specimens from Arizona and the 

 neighbouring countries appearing to be identical in every respect 

 with others from more northern localities. 



Young. Differs from the adult in being streaked below. Instead 

 of the chestnut head, the latter is streaked with black like the back 

 and is of about the same tint. There is a slight yellowish tinge on 

 the underparts, the throat, fore neck, breast, and sides of the body 

 being very distinctly streaked with black. The bill is not black, but 

 dull reddish brown. 



After the jirst moult the young bird loses the streaks on the under 

 surface, but has the head streaked with black like the back, though 

 the general appearance of the plumage is more rufous. As the season 

 advances the chestnut of the crown begins to assert itself, and is 

 apparently assumed without a moult, by the gradual extension of 



