544 N^)in'II AMKKICAN UIIIDS. 



Passerculus rostratus, vai. guttatus, Lawk. 



ST. LUCAS SPABROW. 



PaxwrnitHH rfuttntits, l.www.srv., Ann. N. Y. Lye. VIII, 18fi7, 473. — CuorF.R, Om. Pal. 

 I, 185. 



Sr. CiiAU. Al>«>v«' itlinnlit'ous-iriav • tin* Teat lit -is of the hack with iliiskv <H'ntrcs and 

 paler ('(Ij^os ; the topof hea<l also stri'ak«'(l with <lii^ky ami with an almost inappreciahK' 

 nuMlian stripe of lighter. ri)per tail-coverts slij^'htiy darker in the centre. No rulons 

 cd.irintrs to the leathers. Head with a pale yellowish-white l»and Iroin i»ill over the eye; 

 and a niandiltiilar one. nearlv white, liorderetl ahove and lielow hv the dnskv lino of 

 other /'asseiTulns. I'mler parts white, thickly streake<l on jiiiLrnluin, hreast. and Hanks 

 with dusky, laintly <tn nnder tail-etiv«'ifs. iJill and leirs ratlu-r dusky ; iris hrown. Leiiirtii, 

 ').(>(>; winj,', li.oO; tail, !.*.>'>; tarsns, .SO ; middle toe and claw, .75; bill abo\e. .51 ; ^'■apo, 

 .o() ; «,'reatest heiiriit, .25. 



Hab. Cape St. Lucas (Dec. L^.?.)). 



This l»inl, of wliicli a single s])eL'inien only is so far known, is very closely 

 related to I*, rosfrnfi'.s, tlmuoli veiv easily distinmiished from it. It is con- 

 si(]eral>ly smaller tlian rasfr<(h(s, tlie l>ill more slender, the nj)per parts much 

 darker, l>einu plumbeous, not sandy-colored; the stri]>es beneath darker; the 

 bill and le^s mon^ dusky. These ditlerences may not indieate a distinct 

 si)ecies, but as tlie specimen here deserilted differs entirely from all the speci- 

 mens of a lar«(e ntunber of J*, rust rot ii:^:, it is vet entitled to consideration as 

 a marked variety, — jtrobably the resident race at Cape St. Lucas, where the 

 var. ru.strati'ii is merelv a winter visitor. 



Hahits. Tile St. Lucas Finch is a new species, in regard to the habits 

 of whieh notliing whatever is as yet known. It was obtained at San Jose, 

 in Lower California, by Mr. John Xantus, in December, 185*.). It was found 

 in com])any with a ilock of Posfurrvlux rostratt's, and the presumption is that 

 its habits may resemble those of that little-known species. 



(4i:xus POOC2!TES, RvrnD. 



Poocaics, Baiui), Bird.s X. Am. 1858, 447. (Type, Friiigilla graminm, Gm.) 



Gex. Cfiar. Bill rather larfjo : upper outline sliirhtly deeiirved towards the end, lower 

 straijrht ; commissure sliirhtly concave. Tarsus about eipial to the middle toe ; outer toe 

 a little lontrer than the inner, its claw reachinir to the concealed base of the middle claw ; 

 hind toe reachiufr to the middle of the middle claw. Winirs unusually lonjr. reacliinix to 

 the middle of the tail as far as the coverts, and pointed; the primaries considerably lonji^er 

 than the secondaries, which are not nuich surpassed by the tertiaries; second and third 

 quills longest ; first little shorter, about etpial to the fourth, short«?r than the tail ; the outer 

 feathers scarcely shorter: the feathers rather stilf : each one acumiuati' and sharj)ly point- 

 ed ; the feathers broad nearly to the end, when they are oblicpiely truncate. Streaked 

 with brown above everywhere; beneath, on the breast and sides. The lateral tail-feather 

 is white. Shoulder ehestnut-brovn. - 



