6 NORTH A.MEKICAN liUlDS. 



T. fiisrcsiriiti ; tin- spots on jii_y;uluiii mid l)iviist arc, also muTowor, a.s well 

 as luinlly darker in lolur than tlio l)ack ; and the lad is l()nj,'fr llian in 

 llocky Mountain siriu'iisajii, in which latter it is longer than in Eastern 

 examples. The remaining sjiceics — niHstc/iiins, J'li.srrsrciin, and idiriir- — 

 extend no I'ailher west than the IJocky Mountains ; the iirst and last 

 only toward their eastern base, while tlio second breeds abundantly as I'ar 

 tis tiie eastern limit of the (Ireat Hasin. 



The T. fuficraccna, from the I'oeky M\)nntains, is considcralily darker in 

 color aliove, wliile the specks on the throat and Jugular are s[)arser or more 

 obsolete than in Eastern birds. 



In T. >uiistr/i)iiis, the only two Western specimens in the collection 

 (Mount Carroll, Ills., and Fort Pierre) have the rumj) of a clearer grayish 

 than specimens from the Atlantic Coast ; in all other respects, however, 

 they ajjpear to be identical. Some Mexican specimens, being in winter 

 plumage, have the breast more buify than Northern (sjn'ing or summer) 

 exaniiiles, and the rufous of the head, etc. is somewhat brighter. 



In alicia; no difference is observed between i'-astern and Western birds; 

 the reason is, ]M()bal)ly, that the breeding-ground of all is in one province, 

 though their migrations may extend over two. Thei'e is, however, a marked 

 dilference between the spring and autunni plumage; the dear grayish of 

 the former being replaced, in the latter, by a snuHy brown, or sej)ia tint, 

 — this especially noticealile on wings and tail. 



The following synopsis is intended to show the characters of the different 

 s])ecies and varieties. 



1. Spotn heiHofli rnnndeO, corcriiii/ hrciist and sides. 

 A< Uiillius brown iibove, bucumiiiLr niucli briglitur toward t'lK^ liill, and more 

 olivai'L'ous on the tail. Beneath white; whole breast with rounded .>;i)ot.s. Ne.'^t 

 on tree; egfjs jiale blue. 



1. T. mustelinuB. ]5eueatli nearly pure white, with rounded blaek- 

 i.sh spots over the whole breast, sides, and upper |iart of abdomen ; 

 win<r, 4.25; tail, :l.0'>] eulnuMi, .SO; tarsus, 1.2(1. Ilah. Eastern Prov- 

 ince United States, south to tiuatemala and ]Iondura.s. Cuba and 

 Bermuda ol' West Indie.s. 



2. SjiotK heiieuth Irianf/idar, on breast oidi/. 

 B« Entirely uniform in eolor above, — olivaeeou.s varyinir to reddish or 

 greeni.sh with the sjieeies. Beneath whitish, with a wa.sli of brownish a(.'i'o.-is 

 the breast and alonij' sides. Spots triaui;iilar, and eonlineil to the breast. Nest 

 on trees or bushes; ei,'i:;s blu(! spotted with Iirownish; exeept in T. fuscescviis, 

 which nest.s on the <i;roinMl, and lays plain lihu,' ey;t,^s. 

 a. Ao rouspic'ioiis !i(/lit orhilal rii>(/. 



2. T. fuscesceua. Yellowi-sh-rufous or olive-fulvous .ibove ; a stronp; 

 wash of pale I'ulvous aeross the throat and jnj;nluin, where are very 

 indistinct cuneate spots of same shade as the back. Wing, 4.10; tail, 

 3.00; culmen, .70; tarsus, 1.15. /M>. Eastern Province of North 

 .\inerica. North to Nova Seotia and Fort Garry. West to Great Salt 

 Lake. South (in winter) to r.iuuuia and Brazil, ("ubu. 



