14 ZOOLOGY. 



I found this species congregated in large flocks with the preceding, engaged in gleaning the 

 seeds from the scanty grass on the vast arid plains of New Mexico. Insects and berries form 

 also i)art of their food, in search of wiiich they show great activity, running about with ease 

 and celerity. From Dr. Henry, U. S. A., I learned that in spring large flocks are seen at Fort 

 Thorne, having migrated hither from the north the fall previous. With the return of mild 

 weather they again go north for the purposes of incubation. Among these flocks I detected 

 also the shore lark, {Ercmophila cornuta,) but it formed a small proportion of the numbers. 



POOSPIZA BILINEATA, Sclater.— Black-throated Finch. 



Emhcriza bilincata, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. V, 104. 

 J'oospiza bilincata, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 1658, 470. 



Sp. Ch. — Male. — White stripe commencing at the front anJ running over and five-eighths of an inch beyond the eye, being 

 bordered above by a narrow black line. Anolljer viliite line starting near the base of lower mandible and running down the 

 neck. Space between the two stripes black near the bill, and becoming of a lighter hue at the auriculars. Lower eyelid white. 

 Throat black. Breast and vent dirty white. Sides and flanks slaty yellow gray, changing to a light rusty white towards the 

 vent. Upper parts brown, tinged with olive ; the head a little darker than the back. Primaries dusky brown, edged with light 

 brown. Tail feathers deep brown, the three outer ones being edged and tipped with white. Bill and feet datk blue, black. 

 Length 5J inches. Female like the male 



I first remarked this beautiful little finch just before reaching Tucson, Sonora, Mexico, where 

 I found it associated with several other species of sparrows. They were collected in large flocks, 

 flying from bush to hush, and alighting on the ground to pick up grass seeds and insects. It 

 appeared to be quite numerous, and I followed it as far in Texas as the spring of the Dead Man's 

 Hole, between El Paso and San Antonio. Though not very wild, its restlessness as it flew 

 about the undergrowth made it difficult to procure. It uttered only a chirp during the time I 

 observed it, 



CYANOSPIZA CmiS, Baird.— Painted Bunting. 



Emhcriza cirin, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 313. 

 Cynnospiza ciris, Baikd, Gen. Kep. IX, I8j8, 503. 



Si'. Ch — Miili;. — TTi'iid, neck, auriculars, and flexure of wing, of a rich purplish blue. Chin and lores green. Eyelids, throat, 

 and lower parts, rich Vermillion, paler towards sides and vent. Centre of abdomen sometimes strongly tinged with yellow. 

 Back and scapulars glossy green, tinged with yellow. Back, rump, and tail coverts, purplish red. Lesser wing coverts purple; 

 larger, green. Wings purplish brown, edged with purplish green. Upper surface of tail purplish brown. Under surface of 

 tail and wings slati' gray Bill black above, lighter beneath. Legs brown. LcMigth 5.4 inches. 



Fcmalii — Upper parts olive green, brighter towards ruiup. Lower parts dusky Naples yellow, brightest on the belly, and 

 tinged on the breast with olive green. Bill pale lead color, darker above. Legs lead color. In size a little smaller than the 

 male. 



This, the most brilliant of our finches, is quite abundant in Texas, and is seen pouring forth 

 at short intervals during the day its sweet and lively ditty from the bush and tree tops. 



PIPILO CIILOIIURA, Baird. 



Frivsiilla rlilorura. Towns, in AuD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 33G. 

 I'i/iilo chlururus, BAini), Gen. Rep. IX, lft5-l, 519. 

 fringilla hlandingiann, Gamuki., Pr. A. N. Sc. I, 1843, 2G!). 



Sp. Cm. — Crown, bright chestnut. Front, lores, a line running from lower mandible and breast, slaty gray; being darkest on 



the front and lores. A niuall patch at base of upper mandible ; a line from angle of nunith, throat, ami abdomen, white. Sides 



