FUINGILLID/E — THE FINCHES. 117 



outer web of the second to fiftli priiniiries, and there is only a trace of white 

 near tl>e end, instead of haviuy a conspicuous white edging from base to 

 near the tip. 



The out(ir web of the outer tail-featlier, instead of being entirely white 

 for the exposed portion, is only very slightly etlged with white ; usually 

 entirely black. The white at the end of the feathers is much more restricted, 

 and extends only over llie three outer feathers ; usually not reaching to the 

 shaft. The relati(>ns to var. iiuijuloni/x have been given under the latter head. 



Habits. Tlie Oregon (iround IJobin, so fur as known, has a restricted 

 residence, the western portion of Oregon and Washington Territory during 

 the summer, and in the more northern portions of California. Its occurrence 

 in the latter State seems to have escaped tlie notice of Dr. Cooper, though 

 he gives it conjecturally, having seen birds which he supposed to l)e of this 

 species in the higher Sierra Xevada. In its habits and notes Dr. Cooper 

 could observe no diflerence between tliis species and P. nm/ahn/p; botli hav- 

 ing the complaining mew, from which tliey have obtained the name of Cat- 

 bird on that coast. 



Mr. J. K. Lord found a nest containing six eggs, which he supposed to be- 

 long to a bird of tliis si)ecies, at Fort Colville. It was iniilt on tlie top of 

 a stump, round which young slioots had grown like a fringe, completely hid- 

 ing it from the sharpest eye. Mr. Hepburn met with it at Victoria. 



Dr. Cooper, in his liejiort on tlie Birds of Washington Territory, states 

 that the song of this species in spring, as it sits on a low bush enjoying the 

 sunshine, is like the final trill of the Ifedwiug, or the lisping faint notes of 

 the Cowbird. It is a constant resident of the Territory, but only frequenta 

 the edge of the coast in winter. He also mentions finding it about thirty 

 miles so\ith of San Francisco in autumn. Dr. Suckley met with it west 

 of the Cascade Mountains. 



In very many respects, in the opinion of Mr. Eidgway, the Oregon Ground 

 liobin very closely resemldes the common and fannliar eastern " Chewink." 

 Tliere is noticeable in this western representative a peculiar manner of flight, 

 and a predilection for l)us]iy places, clo.sely corresponding with those of the 

 eastern bird. It differs, in the most marked manner, however, in its extreme 

 shyness, and in the total absence of the agreeable and striking notes of the 

 Towhee. The notes of this bird are, he states, of the rudest descrii)tion, 

 and instead of being familiar and unsus[)icious, it is one of the shyest and 

 most difficult to approacli of any of the western V)irds. 



He found it (luite i)leutiful about Sacramento, whore it inhabits the thick- 

 ets in company witii the western Chat. After crossing the Sierra Xevada it 

 was found more abundant still in tlie chaparrals of tlie sheltered ravines on 

 the eastern btise of those mountains, as well as in the shrubbery of tlie river 

 valleys. During the winter it forsakes the former for the latter localities. 

 Eastward this species was found as far as the West Humboldt Mountains, 

 where typical examples were obtained. 



