BIRDS — FRINGILLIDAE — MELOSPIZA FALLAX. 



481 



List of specimens. 



MELOSPIZA FALLAX, Baird. 



Zonotricliiafallax, Baird, Pr. A. N. Sc. Ph. VII, June, 1854, 119. (Pueblo creek. New Mexico.) 

 ? Zonal richiafiisciata, (Gm.) Gambel, J. A. N. Sc. Ph. 2d Series, I, 1847, 49. 



Sp. Ch. — Similar to Z. melodia, but with wings and tail longer, and bill smaller. Dark centres to the brownish streaks of the 

 feathers of upper and under surfaces obsolete or wanting. Superciliary light stripe ash color anteriorly. Length, 6.65 ; wing, 

 2 75; tail, 3 36. 



Hai.^-Rocky mountain region from Fort Thorn to the Colorado. Fort Tejon ? 



Although this species is very similar to the M. melodia, yet, when specimens are compared 

 with an extensive series of the last mentioned species, an impression of difference will at once 

 be conveyed. The bird is rather larger, especially the tail, as shown by the accompanying 

 table, while the feet and especially the bill are smaller. The line above the eye is grayish ash 

 throughout, without the whitish immediately at the base of the bill. The dark brown centres 

 in the brownish rufous streaks of the head, back, and under parts, are almost entirely wanting 

 or very obsolete ; the color of the rufous streaks, too, is paler. 



I do not, however, feel sure that this species will stand as perfectly satisfactory, as there is a 

 specimen (622fi) from Boca Grande, Mexico, before me which has all the dark markings of eastern 

 specimens, with a decidedly inferior bill. At any rate, I consider it as le.'js strongly established 

 than any of the others before me. It has certain relationships of coloration to the 3f. guttata, 

 but is much grayer. 



As far as I can judge the middle toe and claw are proportionally longer than in M. mdodia. 



List of specimens. 



Catal. No. i 



Locality. 



When collected. 



j Pueblo creek, Camp 106,N.M.: Jan. 22, 1854 



6225 I Fort Thorn, N. M 



10271? j Fort Tejon, Gal 



Whence obtained. 



Lieut. Whipple.. 

 Dr. T. C. Henry . 

 J. X. de Vesey... 



Orig. No. 



61 



656 



Collected bv — 



Kenuerly and Mollhausen. 



June 17, 185G. 



61 b 



