KUIX({II,I,II).K — TIIH FIXrriKS. 



565 



brusli alonjr inouutain rivulets, and similar situations, wliere the seeds of 

 various plants arc ]ir()ciiral)l(f ; its },'eneral habits resemble those of the species 

 of Zoiuilrichiar 



The nests were found by Mr. Riilyway in various situations; the lari,'er 

 nundier were upon the ground, but several were in trees varying in li(>ight 

 from six to twenty feet troni the ground. They were found "frf)ni the latt(!r 

 part of May through June. A nest olttained in Southern Wisconsin l)y Mr. 

 Thure Kumlien is very homogeneous in structure, consisting entirely of 

 loosely intertwined stems of dry grasses, sedges, and cariees. ft was imilt 

 on the ground, is nearly hat, and has only a very shallow cavity. Its entire 

 height is less than two inches, and the depth of its depression not half an 

 inch. The diameter of tiie nest is three and a half inches, and that of the 

 cavity at the rim three inches. 



The maxinuuu number of their eggs is five. Their average measurement 

 is .85 by .65 of an inch. The ground-color is usually a grayish-white, 

 rarely a light brown, marlded and streaked with waving lines, and a few dots' 

 of black or a blackish-brown. 



Genus ZONOTRICHIA, Swaixson. 



ZomtrkhUt, HwAiNsoN, Fauna Roi.-Aiii. II, 1S31. (Type, Emhenza letujophrya.) 



Gen. Chak. Body rather stout. Bill conical, sli.ditly notoiied, soincwliat coiupn.sse.l. 

 excavated inside; the lower mandible rather lower than the upper; <roiiys slifrhtly 

 convex; commissuie neai'ly straight. Feet stout; tarsus rather lonjrer than middle'^ to.;"; 

 the lateral toes very nearly equal. Hind toe lon.irer than the lateral one.s; their claws 

 just reaching to base of middle one. Inner claw contained twice in its toe proper; 

 claws all slender and consideralily curved. Wings moderate, not reaching to the miildle 

 of the tail, but beyond the rump; secondaries and tertials ciiual and considerably less 

 than longest primaries ; second and 

 third <|nills longest; first about equal 

 to the fifth, nuich longer than tertials. 

 Tail rather long, moderately rounded; 

 the leathers not very broad. 



Back streaked. Rump and under 

 parts immaculate, except in young. 

 Head black, or with white streaks, 

 entirely difl'erent Irom the back. 



This genus embraces somt' of 

 the most beautiful of American 

 Sparrows, all of the Itirgost 

 size in their subfamily. xonuiruiim i,ucnji/,n/s. 



All the species properly belonging to tiiis genus tire North American; 

 several South American species, have, however, been assigned to it; but 

 they are none of tlicin strictly congeneric with those given below. 



