462 



U. S. p. E. R, EXP. AlfD SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



in Z. leucophrys, whicli, like the median striiie of the crown, is yellow anteriorly. There is a 

 dusky line hack of the eye. The dark stripes on tlie crown are more hrownish than hlack, and 

 considerahly narrower. An immature specimen (5980) has each feather of the crowa streaked 

 with hlackish ; the forehead blackish ; the whole anterior portion of the crown yellowish, 

 brightest over the eye. 



This species is very closely related to the Z. leucophrys, which it slightly exceeds in size. It is 

 a little more rufous on the back, and has less ash on the nape. The pattern of coloration of the 

 Petaluma specimen is precisely the same, the median stripe on the head being yellow anteriorly 

 and grayish posteriorly, instead of pure white ; in the one from Columbia river, the black on 

 the sides of the crown passes outward so as to obliterate the light superciliary stripe, except in 

 its anterior yellowish portion, as also the dark line behind the eye. This, however, is, I suspect, 

 rather a question of coloration with season, the black in full spring dress being broader and 

 purer, extending down to the eye, while in other seasons it is narrower, leaving a superciliary 

 ashy streak. This is the case with all the California specimens before me, (amounting to over 

 thirty, all in summer or fall dress,) while all those from Washington Territory have the purer 

 and more extended black. 



In Lieutenant Bryan's collections are two young sparrows (7032, 7033,) which I am inclined 

 to refer to this species. The back is more broadly streaked with black, the throat, breast, and 

 sides beneath with distinct dusky streaks. The head above shows an obscure median whitish 

 stripe and another superciliary one from above the eye ; the rest of the head above is spotted 

 with blackish and brown. 



Latham (Synopsis II, 202,) describes a hlack-croiuned Bunting from the Sandwcih Islands, and 

 incidentally mentions the present species as a variety from Nootka Sound. Gmelin bases an 

 Emheriza atricapiUa ujion that name, and includes both original and variety. If his name 

 can be retained for either one, however, it must be for the Sandwich Island species, which is 

 very different from ours. 



List of specimens. 



ZONOTRICHIA QUERULA, Gambel. 



Harris's Fiiicii. 



Fringilla qucrvla, Nuttali,, Man. I, (2J ed.) 1840, 555. (Westport, Mo.) 



'/.iiiwlrichia querula, Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. 2(1 Scr. 1, 1847, 51.— Eo.vAr. Coiisp. 1850, 478. 



Fringilla liarnsii, Add. Birds Aiiier. Vll, 1843, 331, pi. 484. 



h'ringilla comala, Pr. Max. Reise II, 184!. 



Zonotrickia comala, Br. Coiisp. 1850, 479. 



