430 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



about .75. Eggs .75 X -54, plain bluish white. Hob. Southern Ari- 

 zona 579. P. carpalis COUES. Rufous-winged Sparrow. 



a 2 . Tarsus .90, or more. 



Adult : Above brownish gray, the back and scapulars distinctly streaked 

 with blackish; top of head umber-brown, streaked with black, and 

 divided medially by a stripe of ash-gray ; eyelids conspicuously whitish, 

 but this surrounded by dusky; malar stripe, chin, throat, and belly 

 white ; chest pale brownish gray, changing to a more buffy tint along 

 sides ; a blackish streak along each side of throat ; wing 2.70-2.75, tail 

 3.00-3.20, exposed culmen .47-.50, depth of bill at base .27-.30, tarsus 

 .90-.95. Hab. Southern Mexico (Oaxaca). 



P. notosticta SCL. & SALV. Oaxaca Sparrow. 1 



GENUS MELOSPIZA BAIRD. (Page 386, pi. CX., figs. 2, 4.) 



Species. 







COMMON CHARACTERS. Above grayish, brownish, olive, or rusty, more or less 

 distinctly streaked, especially on the back, with darker ; top of head brownish, 

 streaked with darker, and divided medially by a more or less distinct grayish 

 stripe, or else chestnut, becoming black on forehead ; wings and tail brownish (usu- 

 ally more or less rusty), the former without distinct light bands ; ear-coverts and 

 superciliary stripe grayish, separated by a brownish or dusky postocular streak ; 

 a whitish, light grayish, or buffy malar stripe, bordered below by a more or less 

 distinct brown or dusky streak along side of throat ; lower parts mainly whitish, 

 the chest and sides usually streaked with rusty, brown, or dusky. Young similar to 

 adults, but markings less sharply defined and colors more blended. Nest in low 

 bushes or on ground. Eggs light greenish or dull bluish white, more or less spotted 

 with brown. 



a 1 . First quill not longer than seventh ; malar stripe white or light grayish ; chest 



not distinctly buffy. 



b l . Adult with chest white, very distinctly streaked or spotted with brown, 

 rusty, or blackish ; top of head brown, divided by a more or less distinct 

 median stripe of grayish, and without black on forehead or occiput ; 

 postocular streak brown like crown. Eggs dull whitish, pale bluish 

 green, dilute brownish, etc., blotched, spotted, speckled, or sprinkled 

 with brown. 

 c 1 . "Wing less than 3.10, culmen less than .64. 



d 1 . Markings of plumage very distinct, more or less sharply con- 

 trasted with the ground-color, the latter grayish, olive, or 

 grayish brown on upper parts. 



e l . Streaks on back more or less decidedly blackish, those on chest 

 brownish (not rufous or decidedly rusty) or blackish. 



1 Peuciea nototticta SCL. & SALV., P. Z. S. 1868, 322. 



