FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 



123 



shade, and washed with grayish ; middle of the belly only whitish ; the under tail-coverts 

 pale rufous, shading into lighter about the vent and sides of lower belly ; chin and throat 

 well-defined pale rufous, margined all round by brown spots, a few of them scattered 



Pipilo fuscus, var crissalis. 



within the margin. Eyelids and sides of head, anterior to the eye, rufous like the throat. 

 One or two feathers on the lower part of the breast with a concealed brown blotch. 

 Outer primary not edged with white. Fifth quill longest ; first shorter than ninth, or 

 even than secondaries. Bill pale brown, darker above ; legs light. Length, 8.50 inches ; 

 wing, 4.00 ; tail, 4.60. 



Hab. Coast region of California. 



The bill is sinuated, as in P. aherti, differing from that of P. erythroph- 

 thalmus. 



This race is very similar to the original P. fuscus of Mexico, the original 

 description of Swainson answering almost exactly. It is, however, consider- 

 ably larger ; the proportions of wing are similar ; and there is no decided in- 

 dication of whitish in the middle of the body beneath, such as is always 

 distinctly appreciable in fiiscns, and still more in mcsoleucus. 



A young bird differs but little from the adult except in having obsolete 

 dusky streaks below ; the upper parts are uniform. 



Habits. The Brown, or Canon Finch of California is found nearly 

 throughout the State of California. Mr. Xantus obtained it at Fort Tejon, 

 and Mr. Eidgway observed it among the chaparrals on the foothills of the 

 western slope of the Sierras. 



Dr. Cooper considers the name of Canon Finch ill applied to this species, 

 as it is equally plentiful in level districts, wherever trees and shrubbery 

 exist. He regards it as one of the most abundant and characteristic 

 birds of California, residing in all the lower country west of the Sierras, and 

 extending up the slopes of the Coast Range to the heiglit of three thousand 

 feet. They are said to have habits very similar to those of all the other 

 species, living much upon the ground, and seeking their food among the 



