FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 105 



Few genera in birds exhibit such constancy in trifling variations of form 

 and color, and as these are closely connected with geographical distribution, 

 it seems reasonable to reduce many of the so-called species to a lower rank. 

 In the following synopsis, we arrange the wliole of North American and 

 Mexican Pipilos into four sections, with their more positive species, and 

 in the subsequent discussion of the sections separately we shall give what 

 appear to be the varieties. 



Species. 



A. Sides and lower tail-coverts rufous, in sharp contrast with the clear white of 

 the abdomen. Tail-feathers with whitish patch on end of inner webs. 



a. Head and neck black, sharply defined against the white of breast. Rump 



olive or blackish. 



Black or dusky olive above. 



1. P. maculatus. White spots on tips of both rows of wing-coverts, 

 and on scapulars. No white patch on base of primaries. Hah. Mexico, 

 and United States west of the Missouri. (Five races.) 



2. P. erythropthalmus. No white spots on wing-coverts, nor on 

 scapulars. A white patch on base of primaries. Hob. Eastern Province 

 of United States. (Two races.) 



Bright olive-green above. 



3. P. macronyx.^ Scapulars and wing-coverts (both rows) with 

 distinct greenish-white spots on tips of outer webs. 



4. P. chlorosoma.^ Scapulars and wing-coverts without trace of 

 white spots. Hah. Table-lands of Mexico. (Perhaps these are two 

 races of one species, macronyx.) 



1 Pipilo macronyx, Swainson, Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 434. Real del Monte, Mex. — Ib. Anim. in 

 Men. 1838, 347. —Bp. Consp. 487. — Sclater & Salvin, 1869, 361. Piirilo vircscens, Hart- 

 LAUB, Cab. Jour. 1863, 228, Mex. 



Sp. Char. Prevailing color above olive-green ; the head and neck all round black, abruptly- 

 contrasted below with the white under parts ; above passing insensibly into the green of the 

 back ; feathers of interscapular region obscurely dusky medially ; sides and crissum rufous. 

 Scapulars and greater and middle coverts with outer webs pale greenish-yellow at ends ; these 

 blotches faintly margined externally with olive-green. Edge of wing yellow ; outer i>rimary 

 edged with whitish, edges of other primaries and of secondaries uniform olive-green. Fifth 

 quill longest, fourth and sixth scarcely shorter ; first .shorter than ninth. Legs stout, claws 

 much curved. Tail wanting in the single specimen before us (a male from the city of Mexico, 

 belonging to Mr. G. N. Lawrence). 



Dimensions (prepared specimen) : Wing, 3.70. Exposed portion of first primary, 2.30 ; of 

 second, 2.73; of longest (measured from exposed base of first primary), 2.85. Bill : Length 

 from forehead, .75 ; from nostril, .45. Legs: Tarsus, 1.14 ; middle claw, .38 ; hind toe and claw, 

 .85 ; claw alone, .52. 



In describing this species, Swainson mentions an accompanying specimen as similar, but with- 

 out any white spots on wings, suggesting that it may be the female. A specimen in the plumage 

 from Oaxaca is characterized as follows. 



'■^ Pipilo chlorosovia, Baird. 50, 225 (J, Oaxaca. Similar to P. macrow^/a^ in color, but without 

 any trace of white markings on the wings. Outer tail-feathers with an obscurely defined greenish- 

 white patch about an inch long, at the end of inner web ; similar, but successively smaller 

 patches on the second and third feathers, all whiter on upper than lower surface. Fifth quill 

 longest ; first shorter than ninth. 



Z)imen,sio?is (prepared specimen) ; Total length, 8.20; wing, 3.75; tail, 4.80. Bill: Length 



vol. II. 14 



