434: HISTORY OF THE 



The eggs of one set (386), numbering four, obtained at Saint 

 Michael's, on June 5, 1881, measure, respectively: .90x.65, .98 

 x. 64, . 95x. 65, . 92x. 68. These eggs have a pale greenish clay- 

 colored ground, and are covered irregularly with a coarse blotch- 

 ing of reddish brown most plentiful at the large end. The 

 markings occupy over half the surface. Another set (210), ob- 

 tained also at Saint Michael's, in June, is marked somewhat in 

 the same manner, and the eggs measure, respectively: . 80x. 57, 

 .83x.61, .79x.59, .80x.60, .81x.61. In this set there are dark, 

 zigzag markings on every egg, in addition to the other marks 

 or spots. The third set (No. 114), obtained on June 5, 1880, 

 at the same locality, has the ground color concealed by the close 

 light brown markings, which are so light that the ground color 

 shows through, and produces a decided olive brown over the 

 entire egg. . . . From the sets marked by spots, or by 

 spots and irregular blotches, sparsely enough distributed to allow 

 the ground color to be distinctly seen, there is a regular grada- 

 tion, the markings becoming heavier, darker colored, and more 

 abundant, until the ground color may be entirely concealed 

 under the rich, warm chocolate brown, which reveals only a 

 very faint mottling of olive brownish, where the ground color 

 is less thickly overlaid. Many of the sets are more or less plen- 

 tifully marked with irregular, zigzag markings of dark umber 

 brown, very much as in the eggs of the Orioles, but less decided 

 than in the latter. The pattern and style of coloration vary 

 greatly, but are pretty well defined by the variations described 

 in the preceding notes. It may be remarked that eggs of the 

 same set rarely show very much individual variation." 



Calcarius pictus (SWAINS.). 



SMITH'S LONGSPUB. 

 PLATE XXVII. 



Winter sojourner; common. Arrive in November; return in 

 March. 



B. 327. R. 188. C. 221. G. 93, 212. U. 537. 



HABITAT. Interior of North America, from the Arctic coast 

 south to Illinois and Texas. 



SP. CHAR. "Male, in spring: Top arid sides of head black. A line from 

 bill over the eye, lores, lower and posterior border of the black cheeks, ears (en- 



