OREGON SNOW-FINCH. 69 



the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, 

 concealed by the feathers. 



Head rather large, broadly ovate ; neck short ; body full. Feet of 

 moderate length ; tarsus rather short, stout, with seven anterior scii- 

 tella, of which the upper are blended, sharp-edged behind ; toes rather 

 strong, the first stout, the middle one considerably longer than the la- 

 teral, which are equal ; claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally 

 grooved, tapering to a fine point. 



Plumage very soft and blended. Wings shortish, curved, rounded, 

 the first quill three and a half twelfths of an inch shorter than the se- 

 cond, which is half a twelfth shorter than the third, and about the same 

 length as the fourth ; the secondaries rounded. Tail rather long, 

 slightly emarginate. 



Bill reddish-white, the tip dusky. Iris hazel. Feet and claws flesh- 

 coloured. The head, neck all round, and a portion of the breast black, 

 the feathers faintly margined with grey ; the rest of the lower parts 

 white, excepting the sides, which are tinged with brown. The fore 

 part of the back is dark reddish-brown, the hind parts dull grey. The 

 smaller coverts, secondary coverts, and inner secondaries are dusky, 

 with broad light-brown margins ; the primary coverts, and the rest of 

 the quills brownish-black, narrowly edged with brownish-white. The 

 tail is of the same dark colour as the wings, excepting the two outer 

 feathers on each side, which are white, the second, however, having a 

 part of the outer web dusky, and the third having a white streak on the 

 inner web toward the end. 



Length to end of tail 6^ inches ; bill along the ridge || ; wing from 

 flexure 3ig ; tail 2|| ; tarsus H ; hind toe 1*2, its claw ^^ ; middle toe 

 II, its claw ||. 



Adult Female. Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 4. 



The Female has the bill and feet coloured like those of the male. 

 The head and neck are blackish-grey, the feathers edged with paler ; 

 the back and wing-coverts dull reddish-brov^m ; the wings and tail as 

 in the male ; the breast and abdomen white, the sides pale reddish- 

 brown. 



Length to end of tail 5| inches; bill along the ridge ■^^•, wing 

 from flexure 3 ; tail 2{^ ; tarsus || ; hind toe and claw f| ; middle toe 

 and claw ||. 



