FRIXGILLID.K — THE FIXCIIKS. JQ^ 



Few genera in birds exlnliit sucli constancy in tiitlinir variations of f«»nn 

 and c <lor, and as these are closely connected with ^'cographical distriluition, 

 it seems reasonable to red'.ce many of the so-called species to a lower rank. 

 In the following synopsis, we arrange the wliole of North American and 

 Mexican Pij>ilos into four sections, with their more positive species, and 

 in the subsequent discussi<jn of tlie sections sejjarately we shall give what 

 appear to be the varieties. 



Species. 



A, Sidos anrl lower tail-oovorts riifou.'*, in sharp contrast with the clear white of 

 the abdomen. Tail-feathers with whitish patch on en<l of inner wchs. 



a. Head and neck black, sharply delined a<;ainst the white of breast. Rump 



olive or blackish. 



liliick or dusky olive nhore. 



1. P. maculatus. White spots on tips of both rows of win^'-co verts, 

 and on scapulars. No white patch on base ofpiiniaries. Huh. Mexico, 

 and United States west of the Missouri. (Five- races.) 



2. P. erythropthalmus. No white spots on winj^-eoverts, nor on 

 scapulars. A white patch on base of primaries. Hah. Kastern Province 

 of United States. (Two races.) 



lirii/ht olh'e-green above. 



3. P. macronyac.^ Scapulars and wing-coVerts (Itoth rows) with 

 distinct <rreenisii-white spots on tips of outer webs. 



4. P. chlorosoma.^ Scapulars and wing-coverts without trace of 

 white spots. Ilab. Table-lands of Mexico. (Perhaps these are two 

 races of one species, macrouyx.y 



1 Pipilo itiocroinfx, Swaixson, Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 434. Real del Monte, Mex. -In. Anim. in 

 Men. 183S, .347. — Br. Consp. 487. — Sclater & 8alvin, 1869, 3t>l. Pipilo vi)rsc4jns, Hart- 

 L.\UB, Cab. Jour. 1863, 228, Mex. 



Sp. Char. Prevailing color above olive-green ; the head and ne«k all round black, abruptly 

 contrasted below with the white under parts ; above pas.sing insensibly into the green of the 

 back ; feathers of interscapular region obscurely dusky medially ; sides and crissuni rufous. 

 Scapulars and greater and middle coverts with outer webs pale greenish-yellow at ends ; the.se 

 blotches faintly margined externally with olive-green. Edge of wing yellow ; outt'r primary 

 edged with whitish, edges of other primaries and of secondaries uniform olive-green. Fifth 

 quill longest, fourth and sixth scarcely shorter ; first shorter than ninth. Legs stout, claws 

 much curved. Tail wanting in the single specimen before us (a male from the city of Mexico, 

 belonging to Mr. G. N. LawrenceK 



Dimensions (prei)ared specimen) : Wing, 3.70. Exposed portion of first primary, 2.30 ; of 

 second, 2.73 ; of longest (measured from ex[»osed b;ise of first primary), 2.85. Hill : Length 

 from forehead, .75 ; from nostril, .45. Legs : Tarsus, 1.14 ; middle claw, .38 ; hind toe and claw, 

 .85 ; claw alone, .52. 



In describing this .species, Swainson mentions an accompanying specimen as similar, but with- 

 out any white spots on wings, suggesting that it may be the female. A specimen in the plumage 

 from Oaxaca is characterized as follows. 



'^ Pipilo cklorosoina, Baird. 50,225^, Oaxaca. Similar to P. tnacronyx in color, but without 

 any trace of white markings on the wings. Outer tail-feathers with an ob.scurely defined greenish- 

 white patch about an inch long, at the end of inner web ; similar, but successively smaller 

 patches on the second and third feathers, all whiter on upi)er than lower surface. Fifth quill 

 longest ; first shorter than ninth. 



i)m<e>mo?t5 (prepared si»ecinien) : Totallength, 8.20; wing, 3.75: t.iil, 4.80. Bill: liCngth 



VOL. II. 14 



