F1UNG1LLID.E — THE FINCHES. 117 



outer wel) of tlie second to fit'th primaries, and there is only a trace of white 

 near the end, instead of having a consi>icu()US white edging from hase to 

 near the tip. 



The out(»r web of the outer tail-featlier, instead of being entirely white 

 for the exposed portion, is only very slightly edged with white ; usually 

 entirely black. The white at the end of the feathers is much more restricted, 

 and extends only over tlie three outer feathers ; usually not reaching to the 

 shaft. The rehitiuns to var. tmyalont/jj have been given under the latter head. 



Habits. The Oregon (1 round llobin, so far as known, has a restricted 

 residence, the western purtiun of Oregon and Washington Territory during 

 the summer, and in the more northern portions of California. Its occurrence 

 in the latter State seems to have escaped the notice of Dr. Cooper, though 

 he gives it conjecturally, having seen birds which he supposed to be of this 

 species in the higher Sierra Nevada. In its haV)its and notes Dr. Cooper 

 could observe no difi'erence between tliis species and P. megalonjp', both hav- 

 ing the complaining mew, from which they have obtained the name of Cat- 

 bird on that coast. 



Mr. J. K. Lord found a nest containing six eggs, which he supposed to be- 

 long to a bird of this species, at Fort Colville. It was Iniilt on the top of 

 a stump, round which young shoots had grown like a fringe, comjdetely hid- 

 ing it from the sharpest eye. Mr. Hepburn met with it at Victoria. 



Dr. Cooper, in his Rej)ort on the Birds of Washington Territory, states 

 that the song of this species in sjiring, as it sits on a low bush enjoying the 

 sunshine, is like the final trill of the Uedwing, or the lisping faint notes of 

 tlie Cowbird. It is a constant resident of the Territory, but only frequents 

 the edge of the coast in winter. He also mentions finding it about thirty 

 miles south of San Francisco in autumn. Dr. Suckley met with it west 

 of the Cascade Mountains. 



In very many respects, in the opinion of Mr. Tlidgway, the Oregon Ground 

 llobin very closely resembles the common and familiar eastern " Chewink." 

 There is noticeable in this western representative a peculiar manner of flight, 

 and a predilection for busliy places, closely corresponding with those of the 

 eastern bird. It differs, in the most marked manner, however, in its extreme 

 shyness, and in the total absence of the agreeable and striking notes of the 

 Tow^hee. The notes of this bird are, he states, of the rudest description, 

 and instead of being familiar and unsuspicious, it is one of the shyest and 

 most difficult to approach of any of the western l)irds. 



He found it quite plentiful about Sacramento, where it inhabits the thick- 

 ets in company with the western Chat. After crossing the Sierra Xevada it 

 w^as found more abundant still in the chaparmls of the slieltered ravines on 

 the eastern base of those mountains, as well as in the shrub]>erv of the river 

 valleys. During the winter it forsakes the former for the latter localities. 

 Eastward this species was found as far as the West Humboldt Mountains, 

 where typical examples were obtained. 



