2(i4 ZOOLOGY— BIRDS. 



Genus JUNCO, Wagler. 



Synopsis of the genus. 



Common characters. — Prevailing color plumbeous; the abdomeu, crissum, and 

 lateral tail-feathers white : 

 A. Ash of thejugulum with its posterior surface coucave, and abruptly delined 

 against the white of abdomen ; sides tinged with ash ; upper parts pure ash : 

 I. hyemalis. 

 '1. var. aikeni. 

 />'. Juguluin abruptly defiued agaiust the white of abdomen, but convex ; sides 

 pinkish; dorsal region dark rufous brown : 

 1. oregonus. 

 'J. var. annectens. 

 C. Back bright rufous. 



1 . cinereus. 



2. var. alticola. 



3. var. dorsalis. 



4. var. caniceps. 



I'»\ the above arrangement, the group is divided into three distinct 

 species, each having a single variety in the United States, while to caniceps 

 as varieties are referred, though somewhat doubtfully,* the extreme southern 

 forms cinereus and alticola. 



Hyemalis of the Eastern Province is represented in the high northern 

 Rocky Mountains (?) by the variety aikeni, distinguished by its larger size, the 

 white 1 lands of the wings, the greater amount of white on the tail feathers, 

 and the generally paler coloration; features all readily traceable to the effects 

 nt' its cold alpine habitat. Annectens, also inhabiting the northern Rocky 

 Mountains, is referable to oregonus of the Pacific coast, which it resembles in 

 the fulvous sides and in the dark rufous-brown of the dorsal region ; features 

 peculiar to these two forms. From it, it is separable, as a variety, by much 

 the same differences, though less in degree, that exist between hyemalis and 

 dike >ii ; differences assignable, too, to the same causes. It is larger, with paler 

 colors throughout, having the plumbeous black of oregonus replaced by a 



* The closo relationship between cinereus ami the varieties caniceps and dorsalis is made ap- 

 parent by a large <tni< of the runner, taken In tin- Rocky Mountains (seo under Jmico cinereus). This 

 arrangement is precisely the same as published in Report of is; l ; the additional material since gathered 

 seiving only to confirm the views as to the correctness of tins arrangement. Junto cinereus, however, 

 1». ing tin- older name, is here takeu as the type nt the species instead nt caniceps. 



