Sennett 0)1 Nciv Bird^ froin Texas 



45 



black and buff. In this immature stage the sexes are not easily determined 

 aside from the difference in the white tail-patches; in the males the 

 white on second leather from outside is never less than 2.5 inches long, 

 while in the females the corresponding patch is about one inch in length. 



Toting., first plumage : — More pale buff on upper surface, the black 

 markings smaller, browner and less velvety. Crown speckled with irreg- 

 ular diamond-shaped brown spots, each surrounded bj light gray. Under- 

 parts dull pale buff. Wing-coverts, throat, breast, sides and flanks barred 

 with black. Throat-patch indistinct. Sexes recognized by same mark- 

 ings as in full grown birds. 



Toting, dowtiy stage : — Completely covered with the finest and softest 

 of down, leaving nothing exposed but the feet and the tip of bill. Color 

 on belly the palest of tawny ; darker on sides, and running into deep ful- 

 vous on back, shoulders, chin, and sides of head through eye, and on the 

 edges of both mandibles. 



Since at least two years must elapse before the perfect plumage is 

 attained, the bird necessarily undergoes various changes in special mark- 

 ings and general color: hence the necessity for being explicit in describ- 

 ing the various stages. The types are in full breeding plumage, having, 

 with two young just from the egg, been taken at the most northern limit 

 yet recorded. 



Types: — No. 4122, cf , my collection, taken by J. M. Priour, Nueces 

 River, Nueces Co., Texas, March 22, 1SS7. Wing, 7.10; tail, 7; tarsus, 

 1.05. No. 4121, 5, my collection, taken by same person at same place 

 and time as above. Wing, 6.90; tail, C.jo; tarsus, 1.02. 



Adult males (four specimens) average, wing, 7.10; tail, 7. Immature 

 males (eight specimens) average, wing, 7; tail, 6.93. Adult females 

 (two specimens) average, wing, 6.90; tail, 6.62. Immature females (three 

 specimens) average, wing, 6.82 ; tail, 6.40. 



Habitat. Southern Texas, and probably Northern Mexico. 



This form, when compared with others of the species from 

 Southern Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Guiana, and Brazil, can 

 be distinguished, first by the prevailing gray color on upper parts, 

 where the others have brown, rufous or cinnamon ; second, by its 

 large size, exceeding the large southern Brazilian form in length 

 of wing and equalling it in length of tail ; third, by the males 

 having the outer tail-feather generally without white, and the 

 white when it does occur being much restricted, while in more 

 tropical and South American forms the rule is that males have 

 much white on inner web of outer tail-feather. The birds of 

 this genus I believe to be resident wherever found. I take pleas- 

 ure in naming this race for my friend. Dr. J. C. Merrill, who 

 first discovered the bird in the United States, on April i, 1S76 

 (see Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. I, p. SS), and who aided me 

 materially in my explorations on the Lower Rio Grande. 



