FUlNGILLin.K -TIIK FINCFIES. 



4;^ 



^1 



■.-»:■ 



Wini 



fstroaks of mixed brownish and dusky. IJond of win;; ••dp'd witli li^riit yellow. 

 •J.iVi ; tiiil. 2. HO; I. ill, .28 lioni nostril and .'Jo deep; tarsu.s, .OS; middle to««, ..V>. 



Young. (4'),277, Laretlo. Te.xa.^ June 28.; Very similar, but with a tew drop-shaprd 

 .Mtreaks of dark hrown on the ju;,Miluni and alon^ sides. The feathers above have a more 

 appreciable terminal border <»f buiV. 



H.vn. Kio (irandt' re<,'iou of Southern Middle Province; Kansas, broedin;^' (Allkn). 

 San Antonio, Texas, sumniei- (Dkkssek, Ibis, 18G5, -18!) ; eggs) \ ? Orizaba, temp. reg. (Sum. 

 M. li. S. I, :>b\). 



In the liircls of North Ainericii, the specimen chai-acterized on p. 637 of the 

 present work as asticalis, vur. (irhoiur, was referred to P. cas'^ini, those 

 specimens whicli are here retained as such being considered as in quite im- 

 mature plumage. A more recent examination of additional material, how- 

 ever, has compelled us to change our view. In conseciuence of the similarity 

 of the specimen in (juestion to astiva/is, as noted in the article referred to 

 above, tlie general acceptation of the name cassini has been that of a term 

 designating a variety of the common species ; but we have as the result of the 

 investigation in question found it necessary to retain under the head of 

 " cassini'' only the typical specimens from the Rio Grande region, and refer 

 the su])posed aberrant specimen to astivfdis. Iii this Los Nogales specimen 

 we find existing such differences in proportions and colors as are sutticient to 

 warmnt our bestowing upon it a new name, and establishing it as the Middle 

 Province race of adivalis, in this way connecting the South Atlantic and 

 Mexican races (var. aestivalis and var. hotterii) by a more similar form than 

 the P. cassi7ii, which must be set apart as an inde]»endent form, — in all 

 probability a good species. Several facts are favorable to this view. First, 

 we have of the P. cassini specimens which are beyond question in perfect 

 adult plumage, and others which are undoubtedly immature ; they ditfer 

 from eacli other only in such respects as w^ould be expected, and agree 

 substantially in other characters, by which they are distinguished from the 

 different styles of cestivalis. Secondly, the region to be filled by a peculiar 

 race of aestivalis is represented by the var. arizona:, which is undoubtedly 

 referrible to tliat species ; thus we have in one province these two different 

 forms, whicli therefore are probably distinct. 



The present bird is hardly less distinct from the races of aestivalis than is 

 ruficeps ; and we would be as willing to consider all the definable forms pre- 

 sented in the synopsis as varieties of a single sjjecies, as to refer the present 

 bird to aestivalis. 



Habits. This Finch, in its general appearance, as well as in respect to 

 habits, nesting, and eggs, is (^uite similar to Bachman's Finch. It was first 

 met with by Dr. Woodhouse, in tlie expedition to the Zuni Kiver, when he 

 found it in Western Texas. He shot it on the prairies near San Antonio, on 

 the 2oth of April, 1851, mistaking it for Fasserculus savanna^ \vliich, in its 

 habits, it seemed to him very much to resemble, but upon examination it was 

 found to be totally distinct. 



Ur. Heermann afterwards, being at Comanche Springs in Texas, had Ids 



