l-RIN(ilLLID.K--TIIE KINCIIKS. 15 



20, frpqupntiiif:; S^^fsy spots nniinij; tlio linv biislics, aiid ii iiKHilli later tlicy 

 wcro .siiiuin.u', I'l^ inhU, imicli like ii Ciimiiy, 1ml iiiuri! lUiiitly. Tliey aiv iire- 

 .suiiR'd ti) iciiiaiii ill tlio valley all siiimiier. 



The egys, lour in iiuml)er, aro of a lij^lit bluish-^'reen color, ohloii^ in 

 shape, nuiro roiin.led at the smaller end tliaii the ey^'S of the .su(i((/ui,u.m\ tiio 

 }^'ronnd is more of a ;,freen than in those of >'. jihI/UIk. They are marked and 

 lilotched in scattered markings of a goldcn-l)ro\vn eolor. These blotches are 

 larger and more conspicuous than in the eggs of the other species. They 

 measure .70 by .51 of an inch. 



Spizella atrigularis, Daird. 



BLACK-CHINNED SFABROW. 



Sjiinilcs alrif/ularii, Caiianis, ,Miis. Hciu. l.srd, 133. S/ir.'l/n iilriijiihiris, 1!aii;ii, IJirils 

 N. Am. 1808, 470, pi. Iv, f. 1. — In. Mc.\. Moiiiul. ii, Itiids, p. 1(1, pi. .wii, I'. 1. — 

 Cooriii!, Oiii. Ciil. I, 210. ainUkus tUi-imciUalis, C'ouuii, I'r, A. N. Sc. I'liil. VII, 

 April, 1854, 67. 



Sr. CiiAii. Tail olongntod, ilcoply forked and divaricated. C "ral color blnisli-ash. 

 paler bcncatli, and turniiipr to white mi the middle of the hdly. Inter.seapillar rei.'iuu 

 vi'llowish-rusly, .streaked with lilai'k. Foreheaci, loral rcf^ioii, and .side of head as far a.s 

 eye^i, chin, and upper jiart of throat lilaek. Quills and tail-ii'athers very dark brown, (,'ilj;-ed 

 with ft.sliy. Edges ol' coveii.-i like the back. No wiiite bands on the winys. Bill red, 

 feet dusky. Immature birds, and perhaps adult female, without any black on head. 

 Lentrlh, u.50 ; wing, '2.50 ; tail, 3.00. 



IlAn. Me.xico, just .south of the Ilio Grande; Kort Whipple, Arin. (Cocks); Cape St. 

 Lucas. 



This species is about the size of S. jmsilla and S. sorialis, resembling the 

 former most in its still longer tail. Tliis is more deejdy forked and divari- 

 cated, with broader feathers than in either. The wing is much roumled ; the 

 fourth quill longest ; the first almost the shortest of the jjrimarics. 



Habits. This sjiecies is a Mexican bird, found only within the limits of 

 the United States along the borders. But little is known as to its history. 

 Tt is sui)posed to be neither very abundant nor to have an extended area of 

 distribution. It was met with by Dr. Cones in the neighborhood of Fort 

 \\'hiliple, Arizona, where it arrives in April and leaves again in October, 

 collecting, before its departure, in small Hocks. In the spring he states that 

 it has a very sweet and melodious song, far surpassing in power and melody 

 the notes of any other of this genus that he has ever heard. 



Dr. Cones furnishes me with the following additional information in regard 

 to this species : " This is not a coiumon bird at Fort Whipple, and was only 

 observed from April to October. It unquestionably breeds in that vicinity, 

 as I shot veiy young birds, in August, wanting the distinctive head-markings 

 of the adult. A pair noticed in early April were seemingly about breeding, 

 as the male was in full song, and showed, on dissection, highly develoi^ed 



