1909 ] Deane, History of Townsend's Bunting. 271 



While Audubon had the specimen in hand to color and describe, 

 he evidently used Townsend's description and measurements, 

 though somewhat rearranged. There can be no doubt but that all 

 this was prepared for publication, but for some reason was never 

 used. 



Copy of Townsend's Original Manuscript. 



" Emberiza Atjdtjboni. 



" Audubon's Bunting. 



"I obtained this bird, (which I have honored with the name of our 

 distinguished countryman) in New Garden, Penn. on the 12th of June 1S33. 

 It was first observed sitting listlessly upon a fence rail, but upon being 

 approached flew to the top of an adjacent tree from which it emitted a 

 succession of lively notes somewhat resembling the song of the Indigo 

 Bird (Fringilla cyanea) but louder and more varied. Its flight was per- 

 formed by short quick jerks of the wings and undulations of the body. 

 It was with extreme difficulty that I approached sufficiently near to shoot, 

 it being very shy and watchful and passing rapidly from tree to tree. 

 Anxiety to procure it prevented my observing its habits more particularly. 

 I have since visited the spot repeatedly but have never seen another 

 individual. 



"Male — Upper mandible black, middle edge white, lower light blue 

 with a longitudinal line of black extending from the point half way to the 

 base; irides light hazel; head dark plumbious, indistinctly spotted with 

 black; cheeks and breast light plumbious; line over the eye white; throat 

 white, with a black line extending from the base of the lower mandible 

 down each side of the neck and terminating on the breast in a few small oval 

 spots; outside the black line on each side of the throat is a broader stripe 

 of white ending with the base of the auriculars ; back varied with black and 

 brown ; wings plain dusky, the first and second primaries equal and longest, 

 the lesser coverts edged with pale brown ; shoulders yellowish white ; rump 

 and emarginate tail uniform with the wings; breast tinged with ochreous, 

 the color gradually deepening upon the belly; below and inferior tail 

 coverts brownish-white; legs and feet dusky. Length 5| inches. Extent 

 9 inches. 



"I was at first inclined to consider this species as identical with the 

 Black-throated Bunting (Fringilla americana) setting aside the very con- 

 siderable dissimilarity which I observed in its habits, voice &c. More 

 particular observations however, and a careful comparison of the individ- 

 ual with descriptions and specimens has convinced me beyond the shadow 

 of a doubt that my bird is new, and in this belief I am sustained by Mr. 

 Audubon than whom there cannot be better authority. 



"There is a species described by Vieillot under the name of Fringilla 



