50 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



no great iTnj)oitanct'. However, in the large series examined, there is no 

 specimen of ilUua at all aberrant, and none approach in the sliglitest 

 degree to any of the other fcjrms. There can be no doulit whatever of the 

 specific identity of the three forms presented under section " B," as is i)lainly 

 shown l)y specimens of intermediate characters. These western forms are 

 parallels of the western race of Mchspiza ; sckistacea representing M. falliu; 

 megarhjachiis the M. hccrmanui, and toionscndi the M. guttata or rujina. 



Fasserella iliaca, Swainsox. 



FOX-COLOBED 8FABB0W. 



Prinfii/ln iliaca, Mekukm. " Hi'itr. /ur besond. Gcsch. der Vogel, II, 1786-87, 40, pi. x." 

 — G.M. Syst. Nat. 1, 1788, i»23. — Am. Orn. liiog. II, 1834, 58 ; V, 512, pi. cviii. — 

 In. Syn. 1839. — Id. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 139, pi. clx.xxvi. Fasserella iliaca, Sw. 

 Hiids, II, 1837, 288. — Bkx. Li.st. 1838. — Ib. Couspeetus, 1850, 477. — Baiud, Biid.s 

 N. Am. IS.IS, 488. — Dall & Ban.msteh, Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1869, 285. — Samuels, 325. 

 Friiiijilla riifd, Wii.mon, Am. Orn. HI, 1811, 53, pl. xxiv, f. 4. — Liciir. Verz. 1823, 

 Xo. 248. Friiitjitla fcrruginca, WiLsoN, Catalogue, VI, 1812. — Hall's ed. Wilson, 

 II, 255. " Eiiibcriza iiratcnsis, Vieill.," Gkav. 



pp. Char. Ooneral aspect of upper parts Ibxy-red, the ground-color and the sides of 



neck beinj; ashy ; the inter.seapular featliers each 

 witli a larpre l)loti;li of fox-red ; this color glossing 

 the top of head and nape ; .sometimes faintly, 

 sometimes more distinctly ; the rump unmarked ; 

 the upper coverts and surface of the tail continu- 

 ous fox-red. Two narrow white bands on the 

 wing. Beneath, with under tail-coverts and 

 axillars, clear white, the sides of head and of 

 throat, the juguhnn, breast, and sith's of body, 

 couspicuou.sly and sharply blotched with fox-red; 

 more triangular across breast, more linear and 

 darker on sides.* Scinetimes the e«tire head 

 above is continuously reddish. Firs-t quill rather 

 less than fifth. Hind toe about equal to its claw. 

 Length, 7.50; wing, . '3.50 ; tail, 2.90; tarsus, .87; 

 middle toe, without claw, .07; hind claw, .35. 

 Hab. Eastern North America to the Mississippi, to the north along valley of the Mac- 

 kenzie, almost or quite to the Arctic coast, and down the valley of the Yukon to the 

 Pacific. Breeds throughout the interior of British America. 



In summer, the ash is more predominant above; in winter 't is overlaid 

 n!ore or less by a wash of rufous, as described above. 



The young plumage we have not seen. The P. obscura, Verrill,^ may be 

 referrible to it. 



' Fasserella obscura, "Veiirill, Pr. Best. N. H. Sor. IX, Dec. 18t)2, 143 (Anticosti). (Type 

 in Museum f'oiiip. Zoiil., Candjridge.) 



"Size somewliat smaller than tliat of /'. iliiicn. Legs and wings a little shorter in proportion. 

 ClawH less elongated. Bill soniewlint shorter, thicker, and Ies.s acute. Color above rufous-brown, 



Pasvrella Iniensendi. 



