536 U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS— ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
many of these feathers there are corresponding, but very obsolete, indentations of dark brown in 
an obscure shade of reddish brown, but this is evident only in the uppermost quills towards the 
inner margin, the central portion inside the rib being continuously brown. The dentations on 
the outer web are connected also by a narrow stripe of brown along the outer edge of the shaft. 
The outermost tertials and the exposed tips of the others have dark bands going entirely 
across, and separated entirely by broader ones of dull light rufous brown. The tail feathers are 
somewhat similarly marked with the wings, but the brown is always continuous on both sides 
the shaft, extending outward in toothed angular lobes, but not reaching the margin ; the inner 
webs, except on the innermost feathers, being continuously brown, except near the tip, where 
are some obsolete fasciae. The shafts of the four outer feathers are white and bordered through- 
out the whole length with white, which, though narrow on the fourth feather, widens succes- 
sively on the rest until the outer feather is entirely white, with a small dusky streak at the end. 
The upper tail coverts are streaked centrally with black, with indistinct bands at the ends. 
The under parts are bright yellow (much like the yolk of an egg) from the bill to the anus ; 
the sides, under tail coverts, and tibiae are dull brownish rufous white, the two former broadly 
streaked with blackish brown. The larger blotches on the sides have a terminal spot of lighter. 
There is a rather broad crescent of black, the horns of which go half way up the side of the 
neck ; there is also a black stripe behind the eye, and a fine streak above it caused by the black 
eyelashes. The yellow on the chin and upper throat is confined strictly within the rami of the 
lower jaw and does not pass round on the side of the maxilla. The bill is blue, becoming 
almost black on the ridge, and towards the tips; the legs are yellowish. 
The edge of the shoulder is yellow ; the axillars white ; the under wing coverts grayish white. 
There is a strong shade of bluish ash on the lesser coverts. 
The specimen which I have described above is a very perfect male from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 
(1303) in which the continuity of the transverse bars on the exposed surface of the tertials is 
remarkably distinct. It is more the rule that these brown bars are confluent along the shaft. 
The female is similar, but smaller. 
A young bird, likewise from Carlisle, (1629,) has the under parts yellowish, tinged with 
brownish on the sides and across the breast; the pectoral crescent entirely wanting, and the 
sides of the breast thickly streaked with blackish, with a slight pectoral band of the same. The 
feathers above are brownish, with a well defined and continuous border of brownish yellow, and 
with one rather large terminal spot on the back and a series on each web of the tertials of dull 
light reddish brown, all within the brownish ground color. In the larger quills and tail 
feathers these light spots are confluent externally and extend entirely to the lighter exterior. 
The yellow spot in front of the eye is wanting. 
Specimens vary considerably in the extent and intensity of the dark markings above, as well 
as in size and length of bill. 
Through the kindness of Dr. Hartlaub, of Bremen, I have had the opportunity of examining 
a specimen of Sturnella hippocrepis, Wagler, from Cuba, According to Wagler, this differs 
from S. magna in smaller size, different tail, more curved bill, and absence of the black 
streak behind the eye. The skin at my command is not perfect enough to admit of a very just 
comparison, but I see little that is different from continental specimens, except a narrower 
pectoral collar. 
A skin from Brasil (1956) differs in having a longer bill than in any other that has fallen 
under my notice, measuring above 1.60 inches. The size is smaller, the color darker above. 
