132 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



considerably longer than the rest. The tail is long and considerably 



graduated, the outer feather half an inch 

 and obtusely pointed, the corners rounded. 



shortest; the feathers broad 



The extent of the chestnut 

 of the crown varies somewhat ; 

 more extended probably in the 

 males. The region on the side 

 of the head, adjoining the 

 nostrils, is whitisli ; the small 

 feathers mider the eye are 

 spotted with the same. Tlie 

 posterior outline of the ash of 

 the breast is much less sharp- 

 ly defined tlian the anterior. 



Specimens vary in the 



brightness of the olive above, 



wluch IS never as pure as that 



of the wings and tail. The olive of the tail, too, is darker than that of the 



wings. 



A very young bird (1,896) has the whole under parts dull white, streaked 

 and spotted on the sides of the throat and on the breast with dark brown. 

 The crown and back are also thickly spotted. In 5,734 the ash of the breast 

 has made its appearance ; the middle of the belly is white, spotted ; 

 the chin white, encircled by 

 spots. The spots above are re- 

 stricted to near the head, and 

 there is a small central patch 

 of chestnut on the crown. 



No. 1,896 is the original 

 " Green-tailed Sparrow " killed 

 July 12, 1834, by Townsend, 

 and described in an extract of a 

 letter to Mr. Audubon, published 

 page 336 of Vol. V. of the Or- 

 nithological Biography. -P'/"'" <^Morurus. 



Habits. Dr. Kennerly, who procured a specimen of this bird at San Eliza- 

 rio, Tex., December 16, states that it was obtained with some difticulty. For 

 several successive days it was found in the same place, occupying a small 

 clump of very thick weeds. When aroused, which was only accomplished with 

 some effort, its flight was short, rapid, and decidedly irregular. Its motions 

 on the ground were very awkward This species was found by IVIr. Ridg- 

 way very generally distributed throughout the fertile mountain portions of 

 the interior. It was not seen by liim in California, and was first met with 

 in the ravines at the base of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. On the 



