2g NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



The following synopsis may serve as a means by which to distinguish the 

 several races of this species, as also the two remaining positive species of 



the genus : — 



Species and Varieties. 

 A> Lower parts streaked. 



1. M. melodia. White of the lower parts uninterrupted from the chin to 

 the crissum ; the streaks of the jugulum, etc., broad and cuneate. 



a. Streaks, above and below, sharply defined, and distinctly black 

 medially (except sometimes in winter plumage). 



Ground-color above reddish-gray, the interscapulars with the 

 whitish and black streaks about equal, and sharply contrasted. 

 Rump with reddish streaks. Wing, 2.70 ; tail, 2.90 ; bill .36 from 

 nostril, and .30 deep. Hob. Eastern Province of United States, to 

 the Plains on the west, and the Rio Grande on the south var. melodia} 



Ground-color above ashy-gray, the interscapulars with the black 

 streaks much broader than their rufous border, and the whitish 

 edges not in strong contrast. Rump without streaks. Wing, 2.80 ; 

 tail, 3.15; bill, .33 and .22. Hub. Middle Province of United 

 States .......... var. fa II ax.' 



Ground-color above nearly pure gray, the interscapulai-s with the 

 black streaks much broader than the rufous, and the edges of the 

 feathers not appreciably paler. Rump without streaks. Wing, 

 2.80; tail, 2.85; bill, .32 by .27. Hab. California, except along 



the coast ; Sierra Nevada var. heermanui?' 



Ground-color above grayish-olive, the interscapulars with the 

 black streaks much broader than their rufous border ; edges of the 

 feathers scarcely appreciably paler. Rump and tail-coverts, above 

 and below, with distinct broad streaks of black. Wing, 2.40 ; tail, 

 2.50 ; bill, .37 and .24. Hab. Coast region of California var. samuelis.* 



Ground-color above olive-rufous, the edges of the interscapulars, 

 alone, ashy ; dorsal black streaks very broad, without rufous 

 border. Rump streaked with black. Wing, 2.60 ; tail, 2.85 ; bill, 

 .34 and .25. Hab. Puebla, Mexico . . . var. mexicana.^ 



1 Winter plumage. Rusty prevailing above, but hoary whitish edges to feathers still in strong 

 contrast ; streaks beneath with a rufous suffusion externally, but still with the black in excess. 



2 Winter plumage. Gray above more olivaceous, the black streaks more subdued by a rufous 

 suffusion ; streaks beneath with the rufous predominating, sometimes without any black. 



8 Winter plumage. Above rusty-olive, with little or no ashy, the black streaks broad and 

 distinct. Streaks beneath with the black and rusty in about equal amount. 



* In summer the streaks beneath are entirely intense black ; in winter they have a slight 

 rufous external suffusion. 



6 Melospiza melodia, var. mexicana, Ridgway. Mexican Song Sparrow. .? .? Melospiza pecto- 

 ralis, VON Muller. 



Sp. Char. (Type, 60,046, Puebla, Mexico, A. Boucaud.) Similar to M. melodia, but 

 ground-color above olive-brown ; inner webs of interscapulars pale ashy, but not in strong 

 contrast. Crown and wings rusty-brown, the former with broad black streaks, and divided 

 by a just appreciable paler line ; back with broad black streaks without any rufous suffusion. 

 SuperciHary strijie pure light ash, becoming white anterior to the eye ; two broad, dark-brown 

 stripes on side of head, — one from the eye back along upper edge of auriculars, the other back 

 from the rictus, along their lower border. Lower parts pure white, the flanks and crissum dis- 

 tinctly ochraceous ; markings beneath broad and heavy, entirely pure deep black ; those on the 

 jugulum deltoid, on the sides linear. Wing, 2.60 ; tail, 2.85 ; bill, .37 and .24 ; tarsus, .85 ; 



