218 EiDGWAY on a Neiv Species of Peuccea. 



137. Anas boschas. Mallard. — Winter; common. 



138. Mareca americana. American Widgeon. — Winter; com- 

 mon, but most abundant during its migrations. 



139. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. — Winter; com- 

 mon, but most numerous during the migrations. 



140. Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe ; " Diedap- 

 PER." — Winter; common; most numerous during its migrations. 



ON A NEW SPECIES OF PEUCMA FROM SOUTHERN 

 ILLINOIS AND CENTRAL TEXAS. 



BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. 



Bachman's Finch [Peuccea cestivalis) is a species of some celebrity 

 on account of its very restricted range. During the summer of 

 1871, the writer discovered what he supposed to be this species in 

 Southern Illinois, as far north as latitude 38° 25', thus, apparently, 

 very considerably extending its range. Tlie specimens obtained were 

 in very much worn and faded midsummer plumage, and at the time 

 no suspicion existed that they might prove different from South- 

 eastern examples, undue allowance having been made for seasonal 

 changes of plumage. Subsequently, however, upon examining speci- 

 mens collected in the summer of 1875, by Messrs E. W. Nelson and 

 F. T. Jencks, which were in better plumage than those I obtained, 

 it was noticed that the breast in the Illinois birds was much more 

 deeply buff or ochi'aceous, and the upper parts more " sandy," than 

 in Florida and Georgia specimens, with a comparative or entire ab- 

 sence of the black streaks characteristic of the true cestivalis. Still, 

 I hesitated to describe the Illinois bird as a distinct race, not feeling 

 quite sure that in its winter plumage it would not resemble more 

 closely the Florida bird, of which most of the specimens I had seen 

 were obtained at that season. More recently, however, I have 

 examined several summer specimens from Liberty County and 

 Savannah, Georgia, all of which were still different from the Illinois 

 birds ; and I have lately seen thi'ee fine skins, collected in the 

 "Lower Cross Timbers" and "Post Oak Woods" of Cook Co., 

 Texas, by Mr. Geo. H. Ragsdale, which confirm the suspicion I have 

 from time to time entertained, that the differences observable might 



