464 



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



List of specimens. 



JUNCO, Wagler. 



.Tunco, Wagler, Isis, 1831. Type Fringilla cinerea, Sw. 

 J^iphoea, Audubon, Syn. 1839. Type Emheriza hyemalis, Gm. 



Bill small, conical ; culmen curved at the tip ; the lower jaw quite as high as the upper. Tarsus longer than the middle toe ; 

 outer toe longer than the inner, barely reaching to the base of the middle claw ; hind toe reaching as far as the middle of the 

 latter : extended toes reaching about to the middle of the tail. Wings rather short ; reaching over the basal fourth of the 

 exposed surface of the tail ; primaries, however, considerably longer than the nearly equal secondaries and tertials. The 

 second quill longest, the third to fifth successively but little shorter ; first longer than sixth, much exceeding secondaries. Tail 

 moderate, a little shorter than the wings; slightly emarginate and rounded. Feathers rather narrow; oval at the end. No 

 streaks on the head or body ; color above uniform on the head, back, or rump, separately or on all together. Belly white ; 

 outer tail feathers white. 



The essential characters of this genus are the middle toe rather shorter than the short tarsus ; 

 the lateral toes slightly unequal, the outer reaching the base of the middle claw ; the tail a 

 little shorter than the wings, slightly emarginate. In Junco cinereus the claws are longer ; the 

 lower mandible a little lower than the upper. The species have the upper parts ashy or 

 plumbeous, the belly and lateral tail feathers' white. 



SYNOPSIS. 



A. — Interscapular region, greater wing coverts, and tertials reddish. 



Head and neck all round blacky the color not extending along the sides J. oregonus. 



Head light plumbeous above. Lores abruptly black. Beneath very pale ashy, much 

 lighter than the head. Whitish on the belly ." J. cinereus. 



B. — Interscapular region alone reddish. 



Above light plumbeous ; beneath nearly white tinged with ash. Lores abruptly 

 black J. dorsaUs. 



