g NOKTIl AMEiaCAN JUiiDS. 



T. ftifu'mrnx ; tlu' s]M)ts on juijjuliiin ami bivasi arc alsn iiarrowor, as will 

 as lumlly ilaikt'r in tolui* than the back; and tlic tail is louj^cr than in 

 llocky Mountain sintinmni, in wliich latter it is longer than in Kiistcrn 

 examples. The remaining sj>ecies — ituis/cfinns, fits(rsrrn>i, and fdicia- — 

 extend no farther west than the Ilockv Mountains ; the first and last 

 only toward their eastern base, while the second Ijreeds abundantly as far 

 as the eastern limit of the (Jreat Basin. 



The 7\ fa sr ('.sans, from the Itocky ^Fountains, is considerably darker in 

 color alM)\e, while the specks on the thn)at and jugular are sparser or more 

 obsolete than in Ejustern birds. 



In T. nnusttlinKs, the only two Western specimens in the collection 

 (Mount Carroll, Ills., and Fort PieiTe) have the rump of a clearer grayish 

 than specimens from the Atlantic Coast ; in all other respt^cts, however, 

 they appear to be identical. Some Mexican specimens, being in winter 

 jdumage, have the breast more butfy than Northern (spring or summer) 

 examjdes, and the rufous of the head, etc. is somewhat brighter. 



In alkicv, no difl'erence is observed between Kastern and Western birds; 

 the reason is, probaldy, that the breeding-ground of all is in one province, 

 though their migrations may extend over two. There is, however, a marked 

 difl'erence between the spring and autumn plumage ; the clear grayish of 

 the former being replaced, in the latter, by a snufly brown, or sepia tint, 

 — this especially noticeable on wings and tail. 



The following synopsis is intended to show the charactei*s of the different 

 species and varieties. 



1. Spots heneafh ronnded, con r in;/ breast and sides. 



A* Rufous hrown above, becominir much brigliter towiird the bill, and more 

 olivaceous on the tail. Beneath white ; whole breast with rounded spots. Nest 

 on tree; eggs })ale l»lue. 



1. T. mustelinua. Beneath nearly pure white, with rounded black- 

 ish spots over the whole breast, sides, and upper part of abdomen; 

 Aving. 4.2'); tail, 3.05; culmen, .80; tarsus, 1.20. Hub. Ejistern Prov- 

 ince United States, south to Guatemala and Honduras. Cuba and 

 Bermuda of West Indies. 



2. Spots beneath triangular, on breast only. 



B* Entirely uniform in color above, — olivaceous, varying to red«lish or 

 greenish with the sj)ecies. Beneath wliitish. with a wash of brownish across 

 the breast and along sides. Spots triangular, ami conlined to the breast. Nest 

 on trees or bushes ; eggs bhu; spotted with brownish ; except in T. fuscescens, 

 whiclj nests on the ground, and lays plain blue eggs. 

 a. A'b conspicnofis Jir/ht orbital ring. 



2. T. fuscescens. Yellowish-rufous or olive-fulvous above ; a strong 

 wjish of pale fulvous across the throat and jugulum, where are very 

 indistinct cune&te spots of same shade as the back. Wing, 4.10 ; tail, 

 3.00; culmen, .70; tarsus, 1.15. Ilab. Eastern Province of North 

 America. North to Nova S<'otia and Fort Garry. West to Great Salt 

 Lake. South (in wintei) to Panama and Brazil. Cuba. 



