434 U. & P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
PLECTROPHANES PICTUS, Swainson. 
Smith’s Buntings 
Emberiza (Pilectrophanes) picta, Sw: F. Bs Am. II, 1831, 250; pl. » (spring. )—Nurr. Man. II, 589, 
Plectrophanes pictus, Aup. Syn. 1839, 99.—Is. Birds Amer. FI!, 1841, 52; pl. 153, (Richardson’s specimen.) 
Emberiza picta, Aup. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 91; pl. 400. 
Centrophanes pictus, Cas. Mus. Hein, 1851, 127. 
Plectrophanes smithii; Aub. Birds Amer. VII, 1844, 337; pl. 487, (winter. ) 
Sp. Cu.—Hood black ; a linc passing over the eye, a small spot on the nape, another on the ears, and a iarge patch on the 
wings, white; nuchal collar and the whole under plumage brownish buff yellow. Legs flesh color. Length, 5.50 inches ; 
wing, 3.50; tail, 2.75; bill, 45. 
Hab.—Prairies of I]'inois in winter ; in summer north to the Saskatchewan. 
Tn the absence of fully plumaged specimens of this bird, I have borrowed the above diagnosis 
from the Fauna boreali-americana, based on Saskatchewan specimens. As far as I know, none 
in this plumage have ever been taken in the United States, although immaturely marked ones 
are not unfrequent in early spring throughout Illinois. 
The specimen before me has the bill of the size and shape of that of P. lapponica ; the hind 
claw is, however, considerably smaller. The upper parts are yellowish brown, broadly streaked 
with dark brown; there is a trace of a light line on the middle crown, and another on each side 
of it, as of a light spot on the nape; the light spot on the ear covers is also obscurely indicated. 
There is also a trace of a light line along the scapular region. There is a maxillary row of 
spots ; the under parts generally are pale brownish yellow, streaked on the breast and sides 
with brown. The lesser wing coverts have the feathers partially tipped with white. The tail 
feathers are brown, except the outer, the exposed portion of which is white, with a brown 
streak on the outer web towards the end, and a narrow edging on the inner web at the base; 
the second has a long narrow stripe of white along the inner border of the shaft. This 
character will distinguish the species from P. ornatus and maccownii, although something 
similar is seen in P. lapponicus. Its relationships generally are much closest to the latter species. 
The hind claw, however, is scarcely more than half as long; the others also shorter. The bill 
is smaller. The covered portions of the jugular feathers show no black whatever ; the sides of 
the throat and the breast show short streaks of brown; the under parts are more fulvous. The 
outer tail feathers show more white, there being as much on the second of pictus as on the first 
of lapponicus, the second of lapponicus having almost none at all, instead of most of the feathers 
being white. The light brownish flesh color of the legs instead of nearly black, is an important 
feature. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. No. | Locatity. When collected. | Whence obtained. Collected by— 
> ae = al ie | 
1941 | Hdwardsyilles Ulinois) =2- =| 1843 22a ena. - se eee = Sl peaird 2 ose a-eeseae | Je Andi bonesseee eee 
ete oosoce Ge ot no eetns Coopee | USE oso Sosa isacadooc| FaatoaStinscSiducaseneaa) lids Harriss=-ee see 5 
10254 | Salem, Illinois--...-.-.. ADE pee D Meanie on ee Northwestern eer eel R. Kennicott.=----- ese 
10255 | Pembina, Minn-----..--- Seépewe— Sole meecse cose See Oe Sos. See ee eer d0s=sh2 eee 
