FRINGILLID^ — THE FINCHES. 541 



dusky ; lores and sub-orbital region like the superciliary stripe; auriculars pale brownish 

 like the crown, bordered along the upper and lower edge with a dusky narrow stripe. 

 Beneath white, slightly tinged with ashy on the fianks; sides of the throat, whole breast, 

 sides, and flanks, with narrow streaks of sandy-brown, more blackish toward the shaft; 

 abdomen, crissum, and lining of the wing, immaculate; throat with a few minute specks, 

 but along each side bordered by a " bridle " of suffused streaks. 



(J. (Collector's No. 1,744, Ipswich, Mass. Dec. 4, 1868; C. J. Maynard.) Wing, 

 3.25; tail, 2.60; culmen, .45; tarsus, .95; middle toe, .80; hind claw, .40. 



9. (Collector's No. 6,245, Ipswich, Oct. 15, 1871 ; C. J. M.) Wing, 2.90; tail, 2.40; 

 culmen, .50 ; tarsus, .85 ; middle toe, .65 ; hind claw, .30. 



(Collector's No. 6,224, Ipswich, Oct. 14, 1871; C. J. M.) Wing, 3.00; tail, 2.30; cul- 

 men, .50; tarsus, .85; middle toe, .60; hind claw, .30. 



The specimens described al>ove were at first supposed to be Centronyx 

 hairdi, having several points of resemblance to tliat species, a comparison 

 witli the type in Professor Baird's collection at first failing to establish a dif- 

 ference, as it was in faded and much worn summer plumage, wliile tlie j\Ias- 

 sachusetts specimens were in perfect, blended fall dress, so that a satisfactory 

 comparison was almost impossible. A more recent examination, however, 

 with the advantage of two additional specimens of the Massachusetts bird, has 

 i'ully convinced Mr. Maynard that his specimens are not Centronyx hairdi, 

 and that, indeed, they are referrible in all respects to the genus Passercuhis. 



In carefully examining the type of Centronyx hairdi, it is seen that its 

 characteristic features are the following : Outstretched feet reaching beyond 

 the end of the tail ; hind claw as long as its digit, and much curved ; — whereas 

 in IMr. Maynard's specimens the outstretched feet reach to only about the 

 middle of the tail, while the hind claw^ is much shorter than its digit, and 

 only sliglitly curved. With a wing .10 to .45 of an inch longer, they have the 

 tarsus not any longer, and proportionally more slender. In coloration they are 

 still more different. The most striking feature in C. hairdi is a broad and 

 very conspicuous median stripe of ochraceous-buff on the crown, liordered on 

 each side by an aggregation of black streaks, wdiich form the predominating 

 color of the lateral stripes ; of this median stripe there is scarcely any trace 

 in the specimens under consideration, while the crown generally is grayish- 

 brown, with small dusky streaks ; C. hairdi has broad, conspicuous, black 

 stripes on the back, while P. princqjs has obsolete sandy-browu ones ; in 

 C. hairdi there are only a few small streaks of black across the jugulum 

 and along tlie sides and flanks, wliile in P. iwinccps. the whole breast, as 

 well as the sides and flanks, are thickly streaked with broader mai'ks of 

 sandy-brown. 



In point of coloration, as well as in tlie feet, there is in reality a much 

 closer resemblance to Passercnlus rostratus ; but in this the very diflerent 

 bill and diflerent arrangement of markings are sufficient distinctive charac- 

 ters. 



Upon the whole, therefore, there can be little doubt that the present birds 

 are well entitled to the name which Mr. Maynard has given them ; for after 



