BIRDS — FEINGILLIDAE — AMMODEOMUS SAMDELIS — CHONDESTES. 



455 



AMMODEOMUS SAMUELIS, B a i r d . 



Ammodrotnus samuelis, Bairp, Pr. Boston Soc. N. H. for June, 1858. 



Sp. Ch.— Somewhat like Melospiza melodia, but considerably smaller and darker. Bill slender, attenuated, and acute. 

 Tarsus not longer than middle toe and claw. Above streaked on the head, back, and rump with dark brown, the borders of 

 the feathers paler, but without any rufous. Beneath bluish white ; the middle of the breast, with sides of throat and body, 

 spotted and streaked with blackish brown. Wings above nearly uniform dark brownish rufous. Under tail coverts yellowish 

 brown, conspicuously blotched with blackish. An ashy superciliary stripe, becoming nearly white to the bill, and >■ whitish 

 maxillary one ; the crown with faint grayish median line. Length, 5 Inches ; wing, 2.20 ; tail, 2.35. 



This species is somewliat similar in pattern of coloration to the Melospiza melodia, but is 

 readUy distinguished on comparison. It is much smaller, the bill longer and much more 

 slender, attenuated and acute. The wing is more rounded ; the first primary is shortest of all, 

 and less than the secondaries. The middle toe appears unusually long. The colors throughout 

 are much darker than in Melospiza melodia, the streaks blacker, more abrupt and numerous, 

 and without the light reddish brown margins. The rump, and upper and under tail coverts 

 are strongly streaked with blackish, instead of being nearly immaculate. The wings appear 

 more conspicuously and darkly rufous. 



The abrupt blackish spots and streaks will readily distinguish this species from the Cali- 

 fornian spotted Melospizas, except hermannii, but it is smaller, with much shorter wings and 

 slenderer bill. 



Thei;g is a considerable difference in the proportions of the feet compared with M. melodia. 

 Thus the middle toe is so much elongated that, with its claw, it is as long or even longer than 

 the tarsus, instead of shorter. 



The precise position of this species in the series is a matter of uncertainty. It appears to 

 connect Ammx>dromus and Melospiza. The bill and wings are those of the former, while in 

 general coloration it is most like the Melospiza melcdia. It is not unlikely, in fact, that it may 

 be quite properly placed in the latter genus, and be called M. samuelis. 



The spots on the breast appear farther back than in other spotted species, leaving a greater 

 extent of throat without marking. The pectoral spots exhibit a tendency to aggregation in 

 the middle of the breast. 



List of specimens. 



CHONDESTES, Swain son. 



Chondestes, Swainson, Phil. Mag. I, 1827, 435. — Ib. Fauna Bor. Amer. II, 1831. Type Chondestes strigatus, Sw., 

 «qual to Fringilla grammaca, Say. 



Ch. — EillBwoUon; both outlines gently curved ; the lower mandible as high as the lower; the commissure angulated at 

 the base, and then slightly sinuated. Lower mandible rather narrower at the base than the length of the gonys ; broader than 

 the upper. Tarsi moderate, about equal to the middle toe ; lateral toea equal and very short, reaching but little beyond the 



