358 



U. S. p. E. B. EXP. AND SUEVETS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL KEPOET. 



broadly with black. Inner tail feathers like the back ; the others with a broad black bar near the end ; the tips cinnamon ; tha 

 outer on each side alternately banded with this color and black. A dull white line above and behind the eye. Length, 5.70 ; 

 wing, 2.82 ; tail, 2.40 ; (7159.) 

 Hail. — High central plains through the Rocky mountains to the Coast and Cascade ranges, (but not on the Pacific coast.') 



The name dbsoletus applies well to this species, the feathers all having a faded appearance 

 very difi&cult to define. Very few specimens in collections possess distinctly the markings 

 iaentioned ahove, especially the small whitish spots of the upper parts, the brown of the back 

 having generally a more reddish appearance, the dark bars and lines more indistinct. In one 

 specimen (1857) from Fort Union there is no reddish on the abdomen and under tail coverts, 

 which are nearly white ; the bands on the latter too are much less distinct. This agrees better 

 with Say's description, but appears to be of the same species. 



In young or immature specimens, which are much oftener seen in collections than adults, 

 there are neither light spots nor dusky lines above, the color being uniform brownish, passing 

 into pale dull cinnamon on the rump. The breast too is unspotted. The bill does not attain 

 its full length until maturity. 



This species has some resemblance in form to the C. mexicanus ; the bill, however, is 

 considerable shorter, being only eijual to the head. The wings are rather longer and perhaps 

 more pointed, and reach nearly to the middle of the tail. The claws are considerably smaller. 

 There is also some similarity in the color, but the reddish is paler in dbsoletus, and the inner 

 tail feathers are brown like the fore part of the back, with crowded bars ; the basal half of all 

 except the exterior, similar, instead of all being uniform reddish brown, with six or eight 

 narrow black bars. The comparative diagnoses of the two species, without reference to their 

 generic distinctions, will be as follows : 



O. mexicanus. — Bill considerably longer than the head ; claws very large. Throat pure 

 unspotted white ; posterior part of body all round dark reddish brown ; tail feathers nearly 

 similar, all with equidistant bars of black. 



S. dbsoletus. — Bill as long as the head. Claws moderate. Throat with dusky streaks. 

 Posterior parts of body pale cinnamon. Middle tail feathers much like the back. 



List of specimens. 



