448 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
In autumn the dark streaks are less sharply defined, and there is a tinge of very pale cinna- 
mon on the breast. 
The form of this species differs considerably from that of Melospiza melodia. The bill is less 
sinuated along the edge of the mandible. The wing is much longer, and more pointed; the 
first quill nearly as long as the fourth; the second and third equal, and longest. The tail 
feathers are acuminate, pointed, and quite stiff; the toes are shorter; the claws rather straighter. 
I find a good deal of difference in specimens before me, but I am unable to say how important 
these are for want of a sufficient number of eastern skins to determine the limits of variation 
in the species. Western specimens, however, appear larger, grayer, and with fewer and 
narrower streaks on the breast; the legs in some appear longer; the bill more slender. The 
colors generally are more gray. Young birds of the western variety are marked almost exactly 
like the adults, except that they are paler above; the feathers edged broadly with light grayish. 
Without being assured that there is a difference of species, it may be as well to recognize a 
western variety conjinis, characterised as grayer than the eastern species, legs and wings longer, 
bill more slender and straighter, streaks on the breast narrower. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. | Sex and Locality. When col- Whence obtained. | Orig’! Collected by— | Length.| Stretch | Wing. Remarks, 
No. age. lected. No. of wings. 
Red.river, Min... 0s. | viesiepevesensee N. W. University. .| 
Union county, Illinois..) Apri] 20,1857 |...... (CO Ainoncoddns | 
CarlislesPa.csatccsecees | Sept. 8,1842) S. F. Baird ......0. Nasennh 
ofodad CO jara'etalsieleisisinio vies |/OUNC Gs iLO4d || see nieiel OO sinsinsisisiecics 
Wasbinzton .....+es006 April 15,1842 | Wm. M. Baird..... 
nadase Oyarsreere | nO S vrectea|l aaeeratenl Ovilslecte'stereie 
eeeees CO' veciesncienle eee elo GO lsstele'ec'| selerele/ AO. ev sie'sle os.v.e 
Yellowstone, Neb... July 19,1854 | Lt. G. K. Warren..|...... 
e eae dO .ssecee veces Ose. vevciesinenel OOsiesesiccjinvcie 
.| Fort Union, Neb.. - 11,1853 | Gov. Stevens...... 
eueees do y 19,1856 | Lt. G. K. Warren.. 
cones do dO....../s0000. dO 
Yellowstone river, IN ED eiersrefe).lOrse cieie's |ecieeee COs eciecies's eie|(eaiercle’e ; .25 | Iris dark brown.... 
Pole creek, K. T...e.. | Aug. 4,1856 | Lt.Bryan.......0. 
seeeeees GO. eeeeeeeeeees cece se UOeeeee- | GO. cececsenes 
Medicine Butte e’k, K.T. Aug. 7, 1856 | + GO. veceeseees | 
Relelevnais dO..seevesceeces| Aug. 25, 1856 Osi ccesseces 
Black Hills cs... eevee | July 21,1857) Dr. W. A. Hammond) 
Black Hills, Neb....... | Sept. 24,1857 | Lt. Warren,....... 
nEGOdD dOwtecbestseseiees-|( Aura, 18,1057) seeteldOteeedsssace 
| Loup fork of Platte....) July 29,1857 |...... dO. seeeee ves 
10,50 .50 | Iris br’n; bill black 
and flesh color; 
Near Laramie 
5 feet gray einieue)sisible 
8208 |... rsees Fort Laramie .........5 Sept. 8,1857 |...... AO. svcenneene OOOH Sareeeis DO iris eye oe.2 7.2527 10.12) 3.25 | Tris brown ; bill and 
feet flesh color. 
4343 3 Tamaulipas, Mex ...... | Aug. —,1853 | Lt. Couch......+6 G3 | Wariagoconernidaecca 5.75 9.00, 3.00 | Eyes dark; upper 
mandible slate co- 
| lor; tower lighter; 
feet light brown.. 
4344 QD jneneee dO .cceccveeeeeess| Mar. —, 1853 |...0.5 CO} cnisistsie'er ees 
6220 |. cccvee | Boca Grande, Mex... Major Emory...... 
G22 18 eieralnlelste’s Espid, Mex. .vevececece|ccece GOreccceloocers (CY Giacad 6 
62228 ecteleisiels Tejon Valley, Cal .| Lt. Williamson. 
6223 | aseveee|.recer OV eferciaiclalsistorelslereielel| sisielelsieie 9.» ail sraiaietets DOWareinsletersrsie'sts 
6224 Sele cresieis Fort Steilacoom, W. T,| aistewfarehsicraiaisi= ats Dr. G. Suckley 
