176 PIPILO CHLOEURUS, GREEN-TAILED PINCH. 



It would not, however, be at all surprising if complete intergradation between erythroph- 

 thalmus and arcticus were proven by specimens from the Lower Missouri, gaining first 

 a spot or two, and then gradually assuming the fully speckled state. In that event, I 

 should not hesitate to combine the whole in one series, beginning with the black un- 

 spotted erythrophthalmus, with clear brown female, and ending with the olive-shaded, 

 spotted macuJatiis and its nearly similar female. 



Dr. Haiiden has shown exactly where the two forms meet along the Missouri, at about 

 43°. In Northern Dakota var. arcticua occurs east to about 102° longitude, and my 

 Red River specimens of eryikrophthalmus show an approach toward it. 



Excepting the curiously differeut call-uote, the western forms are all 

 precisely like the eastern in habits and manners. The large-clawed 

 form is very abundant in New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The 

 sexes of this race are not obviously distinguishable by any outward 

 mark — in fact, on cutting open a supposed male on one occasion, I found 

 an egg inside. Mr. Trippe sends me the following items : 



" The Arctic Towhee appears in the vicinity of Idaho Springs about 

 the middle of May, and in the course of a week or two becomes rather 

 common, though never very abundant. It becomes rare above 8,500 

 feet, and above 9,000 disappears altogether, being most numerous from 

 7,500 feet down to the plains. In habits and appearance, it is quite 

 similar to the Eastern Towhee, but is much shyer and is easily fright- 

 ened, when it hides in the bushes until all appearance of danger has 

 passed by- Sometimes, though rarely, I have heard it utter the 

 "' chewink " of P. erythrophthalmus, or a note almost exactly like it, though 

 a little lower and more wiry ; but its usual call is quite different. It 

 does not sing near as frequently as the latter bird, but when it does, 

 acts in the same manner, mounting to the lower limb of a tree and 

 chanting its simple ditty at short intervals for half an hour or more. 

 This song is almost the same as the Eastern Towhees ; and it has, also, 

 the same flue drawn, wiry note. It disappears in September." 



Note. — The FipUo fuscas, Sw. {mesolcuais, Bd. ; cf. Codes, Key, 152), has been taken 

 near Canon City, Colorado, by Mr. C. E. Aiken, and may extend to the head-waters of 

 the Platte. A pair were killed in winter. 



PIPILO CHLOEUEUS, (Towns.) Bd. 



Green-tailed Finch; Blanding's Finch. 



Fringitla cWorura, Towns. — Aud., Oru. Biog. v, 1839, 336. 



Zonotrichiii clilorura, Game., Journ. Phila. Acad, i, 1847, 51, pj. 9. 



Emhernagra clilorura, Bp., Consp., i, 1850, 483. — Heerji., P. R. R. Rep. x, 1859, part vi, 



46.— SCL., Cat. 1862, 117. 

 Fipilo clilorurus, Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 519. — Heeem., I. c. part v, 15. — Hayd., Rep. 1862, 



169.— CouES, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 90.— Coop., B. Cal. i, 1870, 248.— Stbv., 



U. S. Geol. Surv. Ter. 187U, 465.— Mekb., ibid. 1872, 684.— Allex, Bull. M. C. Z. 



iii, 1872, 178.— CouES, Key, 1872, 153.— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 131, pi. 31, f. 4. 

 Frirtgilla ilandingiana, Gamb., Pr. Phila. Acad, i, 1843, 260. 

 Zonotnchia hlandinijiana, Woodh., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 85. 

 Ertibernagra blandingiaiia, C^ass., 111. 1853, 70, pi. 12. 

 Fipilo rufipileus, Lavres., R. Z. xi, 1848, 176.— Br., Consp. i, 1850, 487. 

 Kicneria rvfipilcus, Bp., Comp. Rend, xl, 1855, 356. 



jHa6.— Southern Rocky Mountain region. North to Laramie. Across from Texas to 

 Southern California. Winters on the southern United States border (Colorado Valley 

 and San Diego, Cooper). 



List of specimens. 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 9270-77-78, Laramie Peak. 



Later Ejcpedilions. — 60600-62, Little Sandy Creek, Uintah Mountains, and Green 

 Eiver, Wyoming ; 62292-94, Conaut Creek, and T<5ton Basin, Idaho. 



In continuing to refer this species to the genus Plpilo, I follow custom ; but I am 

 unable to appreciate any obvious differences from Zonotrichia. 



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