FIUNQILLID.K -TlIK FIXCIIKS. 4^^ 



streaks of mixed lirowiiish and dusky. Uoiul of win;; vAjjt'A witli li^dit yellow. Wiii^', 

 U.'jo; tail, 'J. 80; liill, M^ li-oni nostril and .23 duep; tai'sii.s, MH; middle l(>(!, .;V). 



Yniitiy. (4r),277, Laiciio, Texas, .(iiiio 28.) Very similar, l)iit with a few drop-sliapod 

 stri'aks of dark lirowii on the jn^'uluni mid along sides. 'I'lie feathers uhovc have a more 

 npiueeialilo leriniiial bor(ler of hnH', 



Haii. ]{io ( I rando region of Southern Middle Provinoo ; Kansas, hrcoding (Ali.f.n). 

 San Antonio, Texas, summer (Dukssek, Ibis, 18Go, 48!> ; eggs) ; V Orizaba, temp. reg. (Su.v. 

 M. U. S. 1, .Jul). 



In the IJirds of North America, the specimen characterized on p. 637 of the 

 present work as wdivalis, var. arizona; was referred to P. casnni, those 

 si)ecimens which are here retained as such being considered iis in i[uite im- 

 mature phimage. A more recent exsimination of additional nniterial, how- 

 ever, lias compelled us to change our view. In coiLsetiuence of tlie similarity 

 of the specimen in ([uestion to a-ntivalia, as noted in the article refo.red to 

 above, the general acceptation of the name cassini has been that of a term 

 designating a variety of the common species ; but we have as the result of the 

 investigation in question found it necessary lo retain under the head of 

 " camni " only the typical specimens from the Rio Grande region, and refer 

 the sujiposed alierrant specimen to a4iv(ilis. Iii this Los Nogidcs specimen 

 we find existing such diflercnces in proportions and colors as are suliicient to 

 warrant our bestowing upon it a new name, and establisliing it as the jNIiddle 

 Province race of wdivalis, in this way connecting the South Atlantic and 

 Mexican races (var. wstivalis and var. hotterii) V)y a more similar form than 

 the P. cassini, which must be set apart as an independent form, — in all 

 probability a good species. Several facts are favorable to this view. First, 

 we have of the P. cassini specimens which are beyond question in perfect 

 adult plumage, and others which are undoubtedly immature ; they differ 

 from each other only in such respects as would be expected, and agree 

 substantially in other characters, by which they are distinguished from the 

 different styles of (vstivalis. Secondly, the region to be filled by a peculiar 

 race of ccstivalis is represented by the var. arizona; which is undoubtedly 

 reJ'errible to tliat species ; thus we have in one province these two different 

 forms, whicli therefore are probably distinct. 



The present bird is hardly less distinct from the races of wstivalis than is 

 ruficcps ; and we would be as willing to consider all the definable forms pre- 

 sented in the synopsis as varieties of a single species, as to refer the present 

 bird to wstivalis. 



Habits. This Finch, in its general appearance, as well as in respect to 

 habits, nesting, and eggs, is (luite similar to Bachman's Finch. It was first 

 met with by Dr. Woodhouse, in tlie expedition to the Zuni Kiver, when he 

 found it in Western Texas. He shot it on the prairies near San Antonio, on 

 the 25th of April, 1851, mistaking it for Passerciilus savanna, which, in its 

 habits, it seemed to him very mucli to resemble, but upon examination it was 

 found to be totally distinct. 



Dr. Heermann afterwards, being at Comanche Springs in Texas, had his 



