192 



Allen and Brewster on Colorado Birds. [October 



characters of arcticus. On the other hand, nearly half have the scapular 

 spots edged and tipped with black, as in typical megalonyx. The length of 

 the claws is variable in different specimens and often variable in the differ- 

 ent feet of the same bird. An arbitrary assignment of these males by the 

 characters given in standard descriptions, and without regai-d to locality, 

 would result in the reference of two to arcticus^ three or four to megalonyx, 

 and a remainder variously intermediate between the two. The four 

 females are all typical of megalonyx, with which, rather curiously, the 

 female seems to be better chai-actei'ized than the male. 



Among the Pipilos with spotted scapulars three races mav be easily 

 recognized :■ — viz. maculatits of Mexico, in which the adult male 

 combines the usual black head and neck with an olivaceous back seen only 

 in the females of more northern forms; arcttcics of the Missouri region, 

 which has the outer webs of the spotted scapulars and of the outer rectrices 

 wholly white ; and oregonus of the coast region of Oregon and Washington 

 Territory, which has the white of the scapulars edged and tipped 

 externally with black and the outer webs of the external rectrices almost 

 wholly black. The variety megalonyx is simply an intermediate between 

 arcticus and oregomis. It cannot be said to have any distinctive 

 peculiarities and it combines the characters of its allies in such varying 

 degrees over the wide extent of its range that each locality seems to 

 furnish a style of its own. This, to a certain extent, is true also of 

 arclicus and oregonus, really typical examples of which are comparatively 

 seldom met with. The aberrant ones of both are usually referred to 

 megalonyx which has, thus become a convenient receptacle, so to speak, 

 of everything that is not pure arcticus or oregonus. Hence one of the 

 worst muddles which at present exists to confuse the student of North 

 American birds. 



One way out of the difficulty would be to suppress megalonyx and 

 extend the characters and distribution of arcticus and oregonus. But 

 the matter cannot be summarily settled, for any arrangement that shall 

 aspire to. be final must be based on intelligent study of very extensive 

 material. 



71. Pipilo chlorurus. Green Towhee. — Seen as early as 

 April 27, but was not common till about May 8 ; were then 

 abundant till about May 16. In June were found breeding 

 abundantly on West Monument Creek at the edge of the plains. 

 (For notice of an hermaphrodite specimen taken, see this Bulletin, 

 VIII, p. 17.) 



73, Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Bobolink. — A single 

 specimen was brought to Mr. Aiken May 18, and another May 

 33 ; two others reported as seen. Btjt two spechnens were 

 previously known to Mr. Aiken as having been killed here. 



73. Molothrus ater. Cowbird. — Apparently not common. 



74. Agelaeus phoeniceus. Red-winged Blackbird. — 



