74 Brewer's Notes on Junco Caniceps. 



over-cloud the ground-color. In the rest the markings are bolder 

 and very conspicuous at the larger end, where they are confluent in 

 a ring." 



Of the three sets of the eggs of Junco caniceps, from Mr. Edwin 

 Carter, in one the eggs are almost entirely white, with a very slight 

 tinge of greenish, and measure .83 of an inch in length, and from 

 .59 to .61 in breadth. More or less diffused over the whole surface 

 of the eggs are very minute and quite obscure reddish dots. Around 

 the larger end in each case are fainter cloudings of purple, clearly 

 perceptible, if looked for, but liable to escape notice if not carefully 

 observed. This set, in its general characteristics, is very similar to 

 the eggs of Junco cinereus above mentioned, and intermediate be- 

 tween them and those of the Junco dorsalis. In regard to its iden- 

 tity there seems to be no doubt. Mr. Carter writes me : " Of the 

 set in your possession I am positive. I took it, June 23, 1873, hav- 

 ing walked four miles to secure it. On the same day, and in the 

 same locality, I found another nest, which was secured. Both birds 

 were startled from their nests and shot, without leaving my sight." 



The second set mentioned is now in my possession, and is more 

 plainly and strongly marked than either of the sets referred to in 

 the Smithsonian, more so even than that of Junco caniceps. The 

 eggs, three in number, measure .82 x .60, .80 x 61, .81 x .60. The 

 markings are a combination of rusty and purplish brown, often con- 

 fluent and concentrated in greater blotches about the larger ends, 

 while also more or less diffused over the whole surface of the eggs. 



The third set, now in the Cambridge Museum, was taken by Mr. 

 Carter's partner, Mr. Wilkinson, in the high mountains bordering 

 the South Park. He flushed the parent from its nest and shot it, 

 b it unfortunately did not preserve it. For the following description 

 of this set, I am indebted to Mr. J. A. Allen : '" Cinereous Snow- 

 bird, South Park, Colorado, July 12, 1876. Nest on ground ; four 

 eggs.' The above is a full transcript of the collector's label. No 

 nest was sent. Coll. M. C. Z., No. 1685. Ground-color white, mi- 

 nutely sprinkled all over with reddish-brown surface-markings, and 

 deeper ones of a pale lilac. The markings are much more abundant 

 Dear the larger end, where they form a rather broad band ; in some 

 of the specimens the smaller end is merely sprinkled rather thickly 

 with minute dots, extending over the whole end. The reddish- 

 brown markings are much the coarser and more prominent, and on 

 one specimen form quite large blotches. The eggs measure, respec- 

 tively, .88 • .63, .88 x .(Vl. .90 ■ .65, .89 • .62." 



