46 NORTH AMERICAN- BIRDS. 



in a diagnosis. This troublo is partly the result of the insufficient series at 

 our command, for there are such different combinations of colors, according 

 to the sea.son, tiiat it is almost impossible to select the average characters of 

 two definable forms. 



Habi r.s. This species was lirst described, in 1852, by Mr. Cassin, from a 

 specimen obtained in California by J)r. Heermann. Very little is i<nown as 

 to its history, and it appears to have been generally overlooi<ed by natural- 

 ists wlio liiive studied the ornithology of that State. Tiie extent of its dis- 

 tribution or of its numbers remains unknown, — a circumstance due undoubt- 

 edly to tlie nature of the country wiiicli it frequents. 



Dr. Heermann states that in tlie fall of 185 1 lie shot on the Cosumnes 

 Iiiver a single specimen of tliis bird i'roin among a large flock of Sparrows 

 of various kinds. In the spring of the following year, among the mountains, 

 near the Calaveras Eiver, lie found it (piite almndant. It was tlien flying in 

 pairs, engaged in picking grass-seed from the ground, and when started it 

 never extended its fligiit beyonil a few yards. Its notes, in their character, 

 reminded him of the ditty of our common little Chipping Sparrow {Spizdla 

 socialis). He obtained several specimens. Its fliglit seemed feeble, and when 

 raised from the ground, from which it would not start until almost trodden 

 on, it would fly but a short distance, and almost immediately drop again into 

 the grass. 



Dr. Cooper has only met with tliis species on Cataliiia Island, in June, 

 where a few kept about the low bushes, feeding on the ground. They were 

 very difficult even to get a sight of. He heard them sing a few musical 

 notes, that reminded him of tlio.se of the Cyanonpiza'. They flew only a short 

 distance, and in their habits reminded him of the Mchii^pka'. Their favorite 

 places of resort he supposes to be pine woods, as in tlio eastern sjiecies. 



The fact that this species has been found by ^Ir. Sumichrast to be a per- 

 manent resident throughout all tlie temperate regions of Vera Cruz is a very 

 interesting one, and is suggestive of different manners and habits from tliose 

 supposed to belong to it as a bird allied witli tlie Ammodrami. They are 

 abundant, and breed there, as in the United States, but nothing is given 

 throwing any positive light upon their general liabits. 



Gen'us EMBERNAaRA, Tjcsson. 



Embernagra, Le.sson, Traitc d'Oniitli 1831 (Aoassiz). (Type, Hallitlor viviiUs, Vil-.ILLOT.^ 



f'KN. Cinn. Bill (.'onical, L'lonjratod, coniiircssod ; tlio upper outline con.siilorably curvnl, 

 tliu lower straight ; tlio ooinniissure sliffbtly concave, and faintly notched at the end. 

 Tarsi lengtlieneil ; considerably lonirer than the middle toe. Oiitei toe a little longer 

 tlian the inner, not reaching quite to the liasc; of the middle claw. Hind toe about as 

 long as the middle without its claw. Wnigs vcTy short, and much rounded ; the tertials 

 nearly equal to the primaries; the socomlaries a little shorter; the outer foiir primaries 

 much graduated, even the second shorter than any other quill. The tail is muUerate, 



