GCIRACA. 445 



pale fulvous or ochraccous, streaked on sides and flanks with duskj-, 

 but usually without streaks on breast; bcllj- pale yellowish, and under 

 •wing-coverts clear lemon-yellow. Young : Much like adult female, but 

 (especiallj- the male) more buffy, the markings more suffused with tho 

 ground-coior, and remiges and tail-feathers tinged with olive-greenish. 

 Length 7.50-S.90, wing 3.85-4.20, tail 3.40-3.90. Eggs 1.02 X -"O. Ilab. 

 "Western United States, east to Great Plains, south into Mexico. 



59G. H. melanocephala (^SwAiNs.). Black-headed Grosbeak. 



Gents GUIRACA Swainso.v. (Page 383, pi. CXI., fig. 4.) 



Specks. 



Common Characters. — Adult males plain blue or bluish black, with or without 

 rufous or chestnut wing-bands ; adult females and young brownish. 



a'. Middle and greater wing-coverts tipped %vith chestnut, rufous, or buffj^, pro- 

 ducing two distinct bands across wing; first quill longer than fifth. JVest a 

 compact, deeply cujj-shapcd structure, composed of dried grasses, plant-fibres, 

 etc., placed in bushes, tall weeds, etc. Eggs 3-4, plain pale greenish blue or 

 bluish white. (^Adult males: Uniform dull ultramarine-blue; lores black; 

 wings and tail blackish, the feathers edged with bluish, the former with 

 two broad rufous bands. Adult females : Above fulvous-brown, beneath 

 paler fulvous; wings and tail duskj-, tho former with two light fulvous 

 bands. Young : Similar to adult female, but colors more ochraceous, the 

 wing-bands more rusty, etc. Immature males: The plumage of the adult 

 male and female mixed, in various proportions, according to age. Adult 

 males in winter: Blue of back, breast, etc., more or less obscured by light 

 brownish or buffy tips to feathers.) (^Guiraca Swains.) 

 6'. Smaller; blue deeper or more purplish ; wing-ban<ls much narrower, deeper 

 rufous, that across tips of greater coverts usually not more than .15 

 broad (often not more than .10), and deep rufous like the other band; 

 white borders to lower tail-coverts, etc., narrower, sometimes nearly ob- 

 solete ; female and young averaging browner or more tawny ; length 

 6.35-7.50, wing (male) 3.35-3.60 (3.50). tail 2.70-2.90 (2.82). exposed cul- 

 men .62-.66 (.64), depth of bill at base .52-.58 (.55). Eggs .80 X -66. 

 Hub. More southern eastern United States; north, regularly (but veiy 

 locally), to Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Kansas, etc., casually, much far- 

 ther; west to Indian Territory (and eastern Texas?); in winter. Cuba, 



Yucatan, etc 597. G. caerulea (Linn.). Blue Grosbeak. 



6'. Larger; blue rather lighter and less purplisli ; wing-bands much Iiroador. 

 paler rufous, that across tips of greater coverts usually .20-.30 wide, and 

 decide<ll3- paler than the anterior band ; white borders to lower tail-cov- 

 erts, etc., much more conspicuous, rarely, if ever, indistinct; female and 

 young averaging grayer, or less tawnj- ; length 7.00-8.00. wing (male) 

 3.60-3.85 (3.68)^ tail 3.00-3.20 (3.0S), exposed culmcn .02-.G8 (.65), depth 



