BIRDS FEIN GILLIDAE — EUSPIZA TOWNSENDII. 



495 



In specimens from the border of the plains the black on the throat is restricted to the upper 

 portion, immediately under the head. The streaks ou the back are broader and less distinct. 

 The first quill is longest, as in most specimens. 



In a young male, from Carlisle, the tail feathers are all acute and acuminately pointed. 



List of specimens. 



EUSPIZA TOWNSENDII, Bo nap. 



Townsend's Bunting. 



Embtriza townsendii, Aud. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 183: "V, 90 ; pi. 400.— 1b. Syn. 1839.— Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 62; 



pi. 157.— NcTTALL, Man. I, 2d ed. 1840, 528. 

 Euspiza townsendii, Bon. List, 1838. 



Sp. Ch. — Male. Upper parts, head and neck all round, sides of body and fore part of breast slate blue ; the back and upper 

 surface of wings tinged with yellowish brown ; the interscapular region streaked with black. A superciliary and maxillary line, 

 chin and throat, and central line of under parts from the breast to crissum, white ; the edge of the wing, and a gloss on the breast 

 and middle of belly, yellow. A black spotted line from the lower corner of the lower mandible down the side of the throat, 

 connecting with a crescent of streaks in the upper edge of the slate portion of the breast. 



Length, 5.75; wing, 2.86; tail, 2.56. 



Hob. — Chester county, Pennsylvania. But one specimen known. 



This curious bird has long been a puzzle to ornithologists in the uncertainty whether it is 

 only a variety of tlie Euspiza americana or a distinct species. Thus far but one specimen is 



