GUIRACA. 448 
pale fulvous or ochraceous, streaked on sides and flanks with dusky, 
but usually without streaks on breast; belly pale yellowish, and under 
wing-coverts clear lemon-yellow. Young: Much like adult female, but 
(especially the male) more buffy, the markings more suffused with the 
ground-coior, and remiges and tail-feathers tinged with olive-greenish. 
Length 7.50-8.90, wing 3.85-4.20, tail 3.40-3.90. Hggs 1.02 x .70. Hab. 
Western United States, east to Great Plains, south into Mexico. 
596. H. melanocephala (Swarns.). Black-headed Grosbeak. 
Genus GUIRACA Swainson. (Page 383, pl. CXI., fig. 4.) 
Species. 
Common Cuaracters.—Adult males plain blue or bluish black, with or without 
rufous or chestnut wing-bands; adult females and young brownish. 
a, Middle and greater wing-coverts tipped with chestnut, rufous, or buffy, pro- 
ducing two distinct bands across wing; first quill longer than fifth. West a 
compact, deeply cup-shaped structure, composed of dried grasses, plant-fibres, 
ete., placed in bushes, tall weeds, ete. Hggs 3-4, plain pale greenish blue or 
bluish white. (Adult males: Uniform dull ultramarine-blue; lores black; 
wings and tail blackish, the feathers edged with bluish, the former with 
two broad rufous bands. Adult females: Above fulvous-brown, beneath 
paler fulvous; wings and tail dusky, the former with two light fulvous 
bands. Young: Similar to adult female, but colors more ochraceous, the 
wing-bands more rusty, ete. Immature males: The plumage of the adult 
male and female mixed, in various proportions, according to age. Adult 
males in winter: Blue of back, breast, etc., more or less obscured by light 
brownish or buffy tips to feathers.) (Guiraca Swans.) 
b'. Smaller; blue deeper or more purplish; wing-bands much narrower, deeper 
rufous, that across tips of greater coverts usually not more than .15 
broad (often not more than .10), and deep rufous like the other band; 
white borders to lower tail-coverts, etc., narrower, sometimes nearly ob- 
solete; female and young averaging browner or more tawny; length 
6.35-7.50, wing (male) 3.35-3.60 (3.50), tail 2.70-2.90 (2.82), exposed cul- 
men .62-.66 (.64),,depth of bill at base 52-58 (.55). Eggs .80 X .66. 
Hab. More southern eastern United States; north, regularly (but very 
locally), to Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Kansas, ete., casually, much far- 
ther; west to Indian Territory (and eastern Texas?) ; in winter, Cuba, 
Yucatan, Cte ....ccseseesseeeseees 597. G. cerulea (Linn.). Blue Grosbeak. 
. Larger; blue rather lighter and less purplish; wing-bands much broader, 
paler rufous, that across tips of greater coverts usually .20-.30 wide, and 
decidedly paler than the anterior band; white borders to lower tail-cov- 
erts, etc., much more conspicuous, rarely, if ever, indistinct ; female and 
young averaging grayer, or less tawny; length 7.00-8.00, wing (male) 
3,60-3.85 (3.68), tail 3.00-3.20 (3.08), exposed culmen .62-.68 (.65), depth 
