514 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



This species is readily distinguished from P. erythroplithalmus by the white on the scapulars 

 and wing coverts. Its relationships to arclicus are much closer. There is not much difference 

 between the two in the white of the scapular region, except that the white marks here, as 

 elsewhere on the wing, are rounded, the extreme end of the outer web of the feather being black 

 instead of running out acutely white to the very tip of the outer webs of the feathers. This 

 gives rather less extension to the white. In fact, most of the white marks are edged externally 

 with black, converting them into spots. There is no white whatever at the exposed base of the 

 outer web of the second to fifth primaries, and there is only a trace of white near the end, 

 instead of having a conspicuous white edging from base to near the tip. 



The outer web of the outer tail feather, instead of being entirely white for the exposed 

 portion, is only very slightly edged with white ; usually entirely black. The white at the end 

 of the feathers is much more restricted, and extends only over the three outer feathers ; usually 



not reaching to the shaft. 



List of specimens. 



PIPILO ARCTICUS. Swainson. 



Pyrgiia {ripilo) arclica, Sw. F. Bor. Am, II, 1831, 260. 



Pipilo arclicus, Nuitall, Man. I, 1832, 089. --In. 2cl ed. 1840, 610.— Bell, Ann Now York Lye. V, 1852, 7. 



Si". Cii — Upper parts generally, with head and neck all round to the upper part of the breast, black. Middle of brea.st 

 and of belly white ; sides cliestnut ; under tail coverts similar, but paler. Outer webs of scapulars and of dorsal feathers 

 immediately above them, ends of primary and secondary coverts, (on the outer web,) outer edges of three innermost tertials, 

 and of the second to the fifth primaries, conspicuously white. Outer web of the first and ends of the first to the fourth tail 

 feathers, white, the amount diminishing not very rapidly. Length about 8 inches; wing, 2.40; tail, 4. 10; hind toe and 

 claw, .74. 



Female brown iustcad of black. 



/yai.— High Central Plains of Upper Missouri, Yellowstone, and Platte. 



This species is similar in form to the P. erythropTithalmus, which, however, is readily distin- 

 guished by the entire absence of white on the scapulars and wing coverts. The amount of white 

 on the tail decreases much less rapidly. The differences between it and P. oregonus will be 

 found detailed under the head of the latter species. 



One specimen (8193) from Fort Leavenworth, with a few white spots only on the scapulars, 

 may perhaps be considered a hybrid between arctica and erythrophlhalmiis. 



