FEINGILLID J5 — THE FINCHES. 553 



in the coverts to wliicli it resorted, that it was very difficult to I'orce it to 

 rise on the wing, when only it could be procured. Mr. Audubon did not 

 meet witli its nest or young, and they remain unknown. 



This type specimen was presented by Audubon to Professor Baird. A 

 second was sent to the Smithsonian Institution, from Texas, by Dr. Lince- 

 ceuni. 



Coturniculus passerinus, Bonap. 



YELLOW-WINGED BUNTING. 



Fringilla passerina, Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 7(5, pi. x.vvi, f. 5. — AuD. Oni. Bioc. U, 

 1834, 180 ; V, 497, pi. cxxx. Fringilla {Spiza) passerina, Bon. Obs. "Wils. 1825, 

 No. 111. Coturniculus passerina, Bon. List, 1838. — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 481.— 

 BAira), Birds N. Am. 1858, 450. — Samuels, 305. Embcriza passerina, AuD. Syn. 

 1839. — Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 73, pi. clxii. Fringilla savanarum, (Gm.) Nuttall, 

 Man. I, 1832, 494.— Ib. (2d ed.) 1840, 570. — (Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 921?) 

 ?? Fringilla caudacuta. Lath. Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 459. — Nutt. Man. I, 1832, 505. 

 1 Passerina pratensis, Vieillot. Coturniculus tixicrus, Gosse. 



Localities : Oaxaca, March (Scl. 1859, 379). Guatemala (Scl. Ibis, I, 18). Cuba (winter, 

 common. Cab. Journ. IV, 7). Costa Rica (Cab. Journ. VIII, 1860, 411 ; Laavii. IX, 

 103). Vera Cruz (winter, Sum. Mem. Bost. Soc. I, 552). 



Sp. Char. Feathers oC the upper parts Isrownish-rufous or chestnut-brown, margined 

 narrowly and abruptly witli ash-color ; reddest on the lower part of the back and rump ; 

 the feathers all abruptly black in the central portion; this color visible on the interscapu- 

 lar region, where the rufous is more restricted. Crown blackish, with a central and super- 

 ciliary stripe of yellowish tinged with brown, brightest in front of the eye. Bend of tlic 

 wing bright yellow ; lesser coverts tinged with greenish-yellow. Quills and tail-feathei-s 

 edged with whitish ; tertiaries much variegated. Lower parts brownish-yellow or buft", 

 nearly white on the middle of the belly, darkest on the jugulum. The feathers of the 

 upper breast and sides of the body with obsoletely darker centres, these sometimes 

 wanting. Sides of breast against bend of wing with a few black streaks, usually con- 

 cealed. Length about 5 inches ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, .2.00. 



Hab. Eastern United States ; south to Guatemala ; Jamaica, resident ; Porto Rico. 



The young of this species have the jugulum and sides of the breast 

 streaked with black, mucli more distinct than in the adult, and exhil)itiiig a 

 slight resemblance to C. henslowi. The upper parts are less varied. 



Specimens from the Far West have the bill more slender, the reddish of the 

 back considerably paler, the dark markings of the back restricted, the light 

 stripe on the head with scarcely any yellow, a decided spot in front of tlie 

 eye quite yellow, and little or no ochraceous on the breast. 



The young bird, with streaked jugulum, may be most readily distinguislied 

 from C. henslowi by the grayer plumage without any shade of chestnut or 

 greenish-yellow, the sparseness of streaks on the side, the absence of the 

 two mandibular dusky stripes, and the broad dusky centres of the middle 

 tail-feathers. 



Quite a fine series of specimens from Jamaica and other West India Isl- 

 ands aftbrds ample material to judge of the validity of the C. tixicrus of 

 70 



