434 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND StJKVETS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



PLECTEOPHANES PIOTUS, Swain son. 



Smith's Bnuting. 



Emberim [Plecirophanes) pida, Sw. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 250 ; pi. , (spring.)— Ndtt. Man. II, 589. 



Plectrophanes pictm, Ahd. Syn. 1839, 99.— Ib. Birds Amer. Ill, 1841, 52 ; pi. 153, (Richardson's specimen.) 



Emherieapicta, Aud. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 91 ; pi. 400. 



Centrophanes pictus. Cab. Mus. Hein, 1851, 12'?. 



Plectrophanes smithii, AuD. Birds Amer. VII, 1844, 337 ; pi. 487, (winter.) 



Sp. Ch. — Hood black ; a line passing over the eye, a small spot on the nape, another on the ears, and* large patch on the 

 wings, white; nuchal collar and the whole under plumage brownish bufF yellow. Legs flesh color. Length, 5.50 inches; 

 wing, 3.50 ; tall, 2.75 ; bill, 45. 



Hob. — Prairies of IlMnois in winter ; in summer north to the Saskatchewan. 



In the absence of fully plumaged specimens of this bird, I have borrowed the above diagnosis 

 from the Fauna horeali-americana, based on Saskatchewan specimens. As far as I know, none 

 in this plumage have ever been taken in the United States, although immaturely marked ones 

 are not unfrequent in early spring throughout Illinois. 



The specimen before me has the bill of the size and shape of that of P. lapponica; the hind 

 claw is, however, considerably smaller. The upper parts are yellowish brown, broadly streaked 

 with dark brown ; there is a trace of a light line on the middle crown, and another on each side 

 of it, as of a light spot on the nape ; the light spot on the ear covers is also obscurely indicated. 

 There is also a trace of a light line along the scapular region. There is a- maxillary row of 

 spots ; the under parts generally are pale brownish yellow, streaked on the breast and sides 

 with brown. The lesser wing coverts have the feathers partially tipped with white. The tail 

 feathers are brown, except the outer, the exposed portion of which is white, with a brown 

 streak on the outer web towards the end, and a narrow edging on the inner web at the base ; 

 the second has a long narrow stripe of white along the inner border of the shaft. This 

 character will distinguish the species from P. ornatus and maccownii, although something 

 similar is seen in P. lapponicus. Its relationships generally are much closest to the latter species. 

 The hind claw, however, is scarcely more than half as long ; the others also shorter. The bill 

 is smaller. The covered portions of the jugular feathers show no black whatever ; the sides of 

 the throat and the breast show short streaks of brown ; the under parts are more fulvous. The 

 outer tail feathers show more white, there being as much on the second of pictus as on the first 

 of lapponicus, the second of lapponicus having almost none at all, instead of most of the feathers 

 being white. The light brownish flesh color of the legs instead of nearly black, is an important 

 feature. 



List of specimens. 



