490 



U. S. p. E, K. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAI, REPORT. 



PASSEEELLA SOHISTACEA, Baird. 



Sp. Ch. — Bill very thick ; the upper mandible much swollen at the base ; under yellow. Above and on the sides uniform 

 slate gray ; the upper surface of wings, tail feathers, and upper Coverts dark brownish rufous ; ear coverts streaked with white. 

 Beneath pure white, with broad triangular arrow-shaped and well defined spots of slate gray like the back everywhere, except 

 along the middle of the belly ; not numerous on the throat. A hoary spot at the base of the bill above the loral region. Length, 

 6.80 ; wing, 3.08 ; tail, 3.40. 



Hob. — Head waters of Platte to Fort Tejon, California. 



This species is readily distinguislied from P. iliaca hj the slate back and spots on the breast, 

 ■without any streaks above. The bill is much stouter and the claws longer. From townsendii it 

 differs in having the head, back, sides, and spots beneath slate colored, instead of dark reddish 

 brown. The spotting beneath is much more sparse, the spots smaller, more triangular, and 

 confined to the terminal portion of the feathers, instead of frequently involving the entire outer 

 edge. The bill is stouter. The wings and tail are the same in both species. 



The essential charaQters of the preceding diagnosis are based on a specimen (5118) from the 

 head of the Platte, and collected by Lieutenant Bryan, in 1856. Since then I have had the 

 opportunity of examining a large number of Passerellas collected at Fort Tejon, by Mr. Vesey, 

 and among them skins in the pure slate colors just described. Others, however, have this 

 tinged, both above and on the spots below, with reddish brown, and there is a gentle grada- 

 tion to what appears to be the true P. townsendii. I still think, however, that the species as 

 described is distinct, even though in some stages of plumage it is difficult to draw the line, as 

 in a large number of specimens, both of winter and summer, from Washington Territory, there 

 is not the very slightest trace of the slate, the entire upper parts being of a uniform reddish 

 brown, only a little brighter on the tail. - 



One specimen, No. 10279, is remarkable for the unusual shortness of the claws, as shown in 

 the table of measurements. 



List of specimens. 



Sub-Family SPIZINAE. 



Ch. Bill variable, always large, much arched, and with the culmen considerably curved ; sometimes of enormous size, and 



with a great development backwards of the lower jaw, which is always appreciably, sometimes considerably broader behind 

 than the upper jaw at its base ; nostrils exposed. Tall rather variable. Bill generally black or red. Wings shorter than in 

 the first group. Gape almost always much more strongly bristled. Few of the species sparrow-like or plain in appearance ; 

 usually blue, red, or black and white ; seldom (or never >) streaked beneath. 



The preceding diagnosis is intended to embrace the brightly colored passerine birds of North 

 America different in general appearance from the common sparrows. It is difficult to draw the 

 line -with perfect strictness so as to separate the species from those of the preceding group, but 

 the bill is always more curved and larger, and the colors brighter. The shorter wings, and the 



