68 OREGON SNOW-FINCH. 



in the Field Sparrow, which, moreover, has the gape-line less deflected 

 at the base, and has the palate concave, in place of being knobbed. 

 The specimens from which the above descriptions have been taken were 

 procured on the 15th of June 1834, on the Rocky Mountains, by Dr 



ToWNSEND. 



OREGON SNOW-FINCH. 



Fringilla Oregona, Townsend. 



PLATE CCCXCVIII. Male and Female. 



This species, which is so nearly allied to our Common Snow Bird, 

 Fringilla nivalis, is another of those recently added to our Fauna by 

 Dr Townsend, from whom I purchased several specimens. All that I 

 know of its habits is derived from the following notice given me by 

 Mr NuTTALL. " It was first seen by us in the woods of the Columbia, 

 in the autumn and winter, flitting about in small flocks, always in the 

 forest, never in the open fields, or on the way-sides. At this time they 

 rarely utter an occasional chirp, or remain wholly silent. We after- 

 wards saw them inhabiting the same woods throughout the summer, 

 in diminished numbers, or in pairs, but 1 do not recollect hearing them 

 utter any song, though they are probably not silent in the season of 

 breeding. With the nest, eggs, and young I am not acquainted." 



I have represented the male and female from specimens procured 

 by Dr Townsend on the Columbia River, on the 5th October 1834. 



Fringilla Okegana Ore&an Snow Finch, Toimsend, Journ. of Acad, of Nat. 

 Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. vii. p. 188. 



Adult Male. Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 3. 



Bill short, rather small, conical, considerably compressed, acute ; 

 upper mandible a little broader than the lower, its dorsal line straight, 

 slightly declinate at the tip, the sides convex, the edges slightly in- 

 flected, but overlapping ; the gape-line straight ; lower mandible with 

 the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, 



