50 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



no great iTiij»ortance. However, in the large series examined, tlicrc is no 

 specimen of ilkaa at all aberrant, and none approach in the sliglitest 

 degree to any of the other forms. There can be no doubt whatever of the 

 specific identity of the three forms presented under section " B," as is i)lainly 

 shown 1)V specimens of intermediate characters. These western forms are 

 parallels of the western race of Mclos2)iza ; schistacea representing M./alhw, 

 mcfjarhjnchus the M. hccrmanni, and toionsendi the M. guttata or rujina. 



Fasserella iliaca, Swainson. 



FOX-COLOB£I> 8PABB0W. 



Fringilla iliaca, Mkkkkm. " H»-itr. zur In-sond. Gesch. tier Vofjel, II, 1786-87, 40, pi. x." 

 — Gm. Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 923. — Aui>. Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 58 ; V, 512, pi. cviii. — 

 In. Syn. 1839. — Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 139, pi. clxxxvi. Passerclla iliaca, Sw. 

 Binls, II, 1837, 288. —Box. List. 1838. — Ib. Conspectus, 1850, 477. — Baird, Birds 

 N. Am. 1S58, 488. — Dall & Baxmster, Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1869, 285. — Samukls, 32.0. 

 FrinijiUa nt/n, WiLsox, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 53, pi. xxiv, f. 4. — LicnT. Verz. 1823, 

 No. 248. FriiKjilla fcrruginca, W1L8ON, Catalogue, VI, 1812. — Hall's ed. Wilson, 

 11, 255. '■'' Ember izii prate lis iSf ViEiLL.," Gkav. 



Sp. Char. General aspect of upper parts foxy-red, the <rround-color and the sides of 



neck being ashy ; the inters(.apular feathers each 

 with a large hlotch of fox-red ; this color glossing 

 the top of head and nape ; sometimes faintly, 

 sometimes more distinctly ; the rump unmarked ; 

 the upper coverts and surface of the tail continu- 

 ous fox-red. Two narrow white bands on the 

 wing. Beneath, with under tail-coverts and 

 axillars, clear white, the sides of head and of 

 thioat, the jugulum, breast, and sides of body, 

 conspicuously and sharply blotched with fox-red; 

 more triangular across breast, more linear and 

 daricer on sides.* Scrnetimes the es»tire head 

 above is continuously reddish. First quill rather 

 less than fifth. Hind toe about equal to its claw. 

 Length. 7.50 ; wing. 3.50 ; tail. 2.90 ; tarsus, .87 ; 

 middle toe, without claw. .07; hind claw, .35. 

 Had. Eastern North America to the Mississippi, to the north along valley of the Mac- 

 kenzie, almost or quite to the Arctic coast, and 'own the valley of the Yukon to the 

 Pacific. Breeds throughout the interior of British America. 



In summer, the ash is more predominant above ; in winter, it is overlaid 

 more or less by a wash of rufous, as described above. 



The young plumage we have not seen. The P. oUcura, Verrill,^ may be 

 referrible to it. 



1 Passerella ohscura, Verrill, Pr. Bost. N. H. Soc. IX, Dec. 1862, 143 (AnticostiV (Type 

 in Museum Comp. Zoid., Cambridge.) 



"Size somewhat smaller than that of P. iJiacn. Legs and wings a little shorter in proportion. 

 Claws less elongated. Bill somewhat shorter, thicker, and less acute. Color above rufous-brown, 



Passenlla tnwnsendi. 



