114 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



terminal spot, but usually leaves a brown streak near the end never seen in 

 ardictis, whicli also has the whole outer web wliite except at the base. 

 From o)r(jonus the species dillers in the much greater amount of white on 

 the wings and tlie less rounded character of tlie spots. Onyonns, too, has 

 the whole outer Aveb of external tail-feather black, and the terminal white 

 spot of the inner web less than an inch in lengtii. We have never seen in 

 O7r(jotins any concealed white spotting on the sides of the head. 



The areatest difference between this race and the two others lies in the 

 stout tarsi and enormously large claws, as described, both the lateral extend- 

 ing greatly beyond tlie base of the middle one, the liinder toe and claw 

 nearly as long as the tarsus. Tlie only North American passerine birds 

 having any approach to this lengtii of claw are tliose of the genus Paaserella. 



This great development of the claws is especially apparent in specimens 

 from the Southern Sierra Nevada, the maximum being attained in the Fort 

 Tojon examples ; those from as far north as Carson City, Nev., however, 

 ar scarcely smaller. In most Itocky Mountain Pipilos, the claws are but 

 little longer than in ardictis. 



In this race the female is not noticeably different from the male, being of 

 a merely less intense black, — not brown, — and conspicuously different as in 

 ardictis and orcfjon us ; there is, however, some variation among individuals 

 in this respect, but none are ever so light as the average in the other races. 



The young bird is dusky-brown above, with a slight rusty tinge, and 

 obsolete streaks of blackish. White markings as in adult, but tinged with 

 rusty. Throat and breast rusty- white, broadly streaked with dusky; sides 

 only tinged with rufous. 



Habits. According to Mr. Kidgway's observations, the P. megalonyx 

 replaces in the Iioeky Mountain region and in the greater portion of the 

 'ireat Basin the P. ardiciis of the Plains, from their eastern sloj)e eastward 

 to the Missouri Eiver, and tlie P. orcf/onits of the Northern Sierra Nevada 

 and Pacific coast. It is most nearly related to the latter. He became 

 familiar with the habits of this species near Salt Lake City, having already 

 made like observations of tlie orcgonus at Carson. A short ac(iuaintiince 

 with the former, after a long familiarity M'itli the latter, enabled him to note 

 a decided dilierence in the notes of the two birds, yet in their external 

 appearance they were hardly distinguishable, and he was at first surprised 

 to find the same bird apparently uttering entirely different notes, the call- 

 note of P. megalonyx being very similar to that of the common Catbird. 

 The song of this species, he adds, has considerable resemblance in style to 

 that of the eastern P. erytlirophthalmus, and though lacking its musical 

 character, is yet far superior to that of P. orcgonns. Tliis l)ird is also much 

 less shy than the western one, and is, in fact, quite as unsuspicious as the 

 eastern bird. 



Nests, with eggs, were found on the ground, among the scrub-oaks of the 

 hillsides, from about tlic 20th of May until the middle of June. 



