552 NOHTIl AMKIUCAN 15IRD.S. 



tlu; ('. ])(is.<!rriiius. Tlioir j,n'(Mn)(l-c(ili)r is a cluar l)ii^flit wliitc, and tlicy are 

 spottcil with well-(U'fiiit'(l icddisli-lirowii inaiki:igs, and more subdued tints 

 of purple. The niarkinjj;s, su lav as I liave seen tlieir eggs, are finer and 

 fewer than thuse of ^'.^)(^s,^r;■/««.s, and are distiibuted more excUisively around 

 tlie hirger end. The eggs niea.sure .7iS by .GU of an incli, and are of a more 

 oblong-oval than thuse of the common Vellow-Wiiig. 



Coturniculus lecontei, Boxap. 



LECONTE'S BUNTING. 



Embcrha kcmitd, Arn. Minis Am. VII, lSi3, 338, pi. (■ceol.xxxviil. - Max. t'al). Jour. VI, 

 1858, 340. Coturniculus lecontei, Box. Conspectus, 1850, 481. — IJauii.', Birds N. Am. 

 18.'i8, 452. 



Sp. Char. Bill much luoio slenilor than in C. heiislowi. First (piill the longest, tlio rest 

 (liniinisiliinfr rapidly. Tail cinargiiiate and roumled, with the foathors acMitu. Upper parts 

 light yellowish-red, streaked with brownish-blaek ; the margins of the feathers and 

 .seapnlar.s pale yellowish-white. Tuil-lbathers dtisky, margined with light-yellowi.sh. 

 Lower parts, with the eheeks and a broad band over the eyes, line buft". Medial line 

 yellowi.sli anteriorly, nearly white behind. The bull" extending to the femorals and along 

 the siiles, streaked with brownish-blaek. Throat, neck, and upper parts of the breast, 

 without any streaks, and plain bull". Length, 4.40; wing, 2.13; bill along ridge, .37; 

 edge, .")(). Logs fle.sh-color ; bill dark blue. 



Had. ilouth of Yellowstone, to Texas. 



Since the regret ex]iressed in tlie Birds of North America (1858) at the 

 loss of the single specimen known of this species, another has been received 

 by the Smithsonian Institution from Washington Co., Te.xas, collected by 

 Dr. Lincecnm. It is in very poor condition, having been skinned for an 

 alcoholic preparation, and does not admit of a satisfactory description of the 

 colors. In its unspotted breast, the rufous feathers of tlie hind neck, the 

 absence of maxillary stripes, and apparently in the markings of the wings, it 

 is most like C. jjasKcriiivs. Although the inner tail-feathei's have the narrow 

 stripe of luns/owi, tiie hill is nuich smaller, as stated by Andubon, than in 

 the others, and is apparently bluish, not yellow. Tlie vertical stripe is 

 deep buff anteriorly, and pale ashy posteriorly, instead of buff throughout, 

 and the superciliary stripe is continuously buff, instead of yellow anterior to, 

 and ashy behind, the eye. In the comparative length of wing and ttiil, it is 

 most nearly related to hcnslovi, but the bill is very much narrower than in 

 either. Ujion the whole, there can be no doubt of its actual specific distinct- 

 ness from both its allies. 



Hahits. T.,econte's Sharp-tailed Sparrow was procured by Audubon in 

 his expedition to the Yellowstone. He speaks of its having very curious 

 notes, which he describes as of a sharp, querulous nature, and a general habit 

 of keeping only among the long, slender green grasses that here and there 

 grew up in patches along the margins of the creeks. So closely did it keep 



