48 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



racks, in Texas, by Mr. J. H. Clark, 

 with is not indicated by him. 



Emberna^a riifivirgata. 



lands of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico 



The season when these birds were met 



It is stated by Mr. Sumichrast 

 that this species is found throughout 

 both the temperate and the hot dis- 

 tricts of the State of Vera Cruz, 

 Mexico. He also mentions that he 

 has found this bird in localities quite 

 remote from each other, and belong- 

 ing both to the hot and to the tem- 

 perate regions. In the latter it is 

 found to the height of at least four 

 thousand feet. 



This species was met with by Mr. 

 Boucard, during the winter months, 

 at Plaza Vicente, in the hot low- 



SuBFAMiLY PASSERELLIN^. 



Char. Toes and claws very stout ; the lateral claws reaching beyond the middle of the 

 middle one ; all very slightly curved. 



Bill conical, the outlines straight ; both mandibles equal ; wings long, 

 longer than the even tail or 

 slightly rounded, reaching 

 nearly to the middle of its 

 exposed portion. Hind claw 

 longer than its digit ; the toe 

 nearly as long as the middle 

 toe ; tarsus longer than the 

 middle toe. Brown above, 

 either uniformly so or faintly 

 streaked ; triangular spots be- 

 low. 



This section embraces a 

 single North American genus, chiefly characterized by the remarkable elon- 

 gation of the lateral claws, as well as by the peculiar shape and large size 

 of all the claws ; the lateral, especially, are so much lengthened as to extend 

 nearly as far as the middle. The only approach to this, as far as I recollect, 

 among United States Conirostres, is in Pipilo megalonyx, and Xanthocephalus 

 icterocephalus. 



Passer ella iliaca. 



■J,-^.. 



