514 



U. S. p. R. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS— ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



This species is readily distinguished from F. erythrophthalmus hy the white on the scapulars 

 and wing coverts. Its relationships to ardicus are much closer. There is not much differeace 

 between the two in the white of the scapular region, except that the white marks here, as 

 elsewhere on the wing, are rounded, the extreme end of the outer web of the feather being black 

 instead of running out acutely white to the very tip of the outer webs of the feathers. This 

 gives rather less extension to the white. In fact, most of the white marks are edged externally 

 with black, converting them into spots. There is no white whatever at the exposed base of the 

 outer web of the second to fifth primaries, and there is only a trace of white near the end, 

 instead of having a conspicuous white edging from base to near the tip. » 



The outer web of the outer tail feather, instead of being entirely white for the exposed 

 portion, is only very slightly edged with white ; usually entirely black. The white at the end 

 of the feathers is much more restricted, and extends only over the three outer feathers ; usually 

 not reaching to the shaft. 



List of specimens. 



PIPILO AECTICUS, Swainson. 



Pyrgita (Pipilo) arctica, Sw. F. Eor. Am. II, 1831, 260. 



Pipilo arcticus, Nhttall, Man. I, 1839, 589.— Ib. 2d ed. 1840, 610.— Bell, Ann. New York Lye. V, 1852, 7. 



Sp. Ch. — Upper parts generally, with head and neck all round to the upper part of the breast, black. Middle of breast and 

 of belly white ; sides chestnut ; under tail coverts similar, but paler. Outer webs of scapulars and of dorsal feathesrs immedi- 

 ately above them, ends of primary and secondary coverts, (on the outer web,) outer edges of three innermost tertials, and of 

 the second to the fifth primaries, conspicuously white. Outer web of the first and ends of the first to the fourth tail feathers, 

 white, the amount diminishing not very rapidly. Length about 8 inches ; wing, 2.40 ; tail, 4.10 ; hind toe and claw, .74. 



Female brown instead of black. 



Hub. — High Central Plains of Upper Missouri, Yellowstone, and Platte. 



This species is similar in form to the P. erythrophthalmus, which, however, is readily distin- 

 guished by the entire absence of white on the scapulars and wing coverts. The amount of white 

 on the tail decreases much less rapidly. The differences between it and P. oregonus will be 

 found detailed under the head of the latter species. 



One specimen (8193) from Fort Leavenworth, with a few white spots only on the scapulars, 

 may perhaps be considered a hybrid between arctica and erythrophthalmus. 



