132 



NOimi AMERICAN BIRDS. 



considerably longer than the rest. The tail is long and considerably 

 graduated., the outer feather half an inch shortest; the feathers l)road 

 and obtusely pointed, the corners rounded. 



__ -_ The extent of the chestnut 



of the crown varies somewhat ; 

 more extended probably in the 

 males. Tiie region on the side 

 ol' the head, adjoining the 

 nostrils, is whitish ; tlie small 

 feathers under the eye are 

 spotted with the same. The 

 posterior outline of the ash of 

 the breast is much less sharp- 

 ly defined than the anterior. 



Specimens vary in the 

 brightness of the olive aboxe, 

 which IS never as pure as that 



of the wings and tail. The olive of the tail, too, is darker than that of the 



wings. 

 A very young bird (1,89G) has the whole nnder parts dull white, streaked 



and spotted on the sides of the throat and on the breast with dark brown. 



Tlie crown and back are also tliickly spotted. In 5,734 the ash of the breast 



has made its appearance ; the middle of the belly is white, spotted ; 



tlie chin white, encircled by 



spots. The spots above are re- 

 stricted to near the head, and 



there is a small central jmtch 



of chestnut on the crown. 

 No. 1,89G is the original 



" Green-tailed Sparrow " killed 



July 12, 1834, by Towusend, 



and described in an extract of a 



letter to ]Mr. Audubon, published 



page 33G of Vol. V. of the Or- 

 nithological Biogriipliy. P'I'I'o rlilorimis. 



Habits. Dr. Kennerly, who procured a specimen of this bird at San Eliza- 

 rio, Tex., December 10, states that it was obtained with some difficulty. For 

 several successive days it was found in the same place, occupying a small 

 clump of very thick weeds. When aroused, which was only accomplished with 

 some etl'ort, its flight was short, rapid, and decidedly irregular. Its motions 

 on the ground were very awkward This si)ecies was found by Mr. Ridg- 

 way very generaUy distributed throughout the fertile mountain portions of 

 tiie interior. It was not seen by liim in California, and was first met with 

 in the ravines at tiie l)ase of the eastern slope of the Siena Nevada. On the 



