182 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



bb. Wing, tail, and tarsus longer, bill more slender, color grayer above, with dusky 

 streaks usually narrower, those on chest, etc., not so dark; wing averaging 

 83.57, tail 65.79, tarsus 21.59, depth of bill 7.62 in male, 80.01, 61.98, 21.34, 

 and 7.62 in female. (Rock Mountain plateau district. ) 



Pooecetes gramineua confinis (p. 184) 



au. Smaller (wing averaging less than 80.01 in male, less than 76.20 in female) ; 



coloration browner above, distinctly buffy beneath. (Pacific coast district of 



United States. ) Pooecetes gramineus affinis (p. 186) 



POOECETES GRAMINEUS GRAMINEUS (Gmelin). 

 VESPER SPARROW. 



Adults {sexes alike). — Above light grayish brown (hair brown) con- 

 spicuously streaked with black, the streaks broadest on back, less dis- 

 tinct on rump; lesser wing-coverts cinnamon or russet, with a dusky 

 (mostly concealed) wedge-shaped central space; wings otherwise and 

 tail dusky, the feathers edged with light grayish brown, especially the 

 larger wing-coverts and secondaries, the former (middle and greater 

 coverts) indistinctly tipped with pale dull buffy or bufly whitish, form- 

 ing indistinct narrow bands; outermost tail-feather largely white, 

 this involving most of the outer web and the terminal half, approxi- 

 mately, of the inner web next the shaft, the dusky extending along 

 the innermost (longitudinal) half within half an inch, or less, of the 

 tip; superciliary region light grayish brown or brownish gray nar- 

 rowly and indistinctly streaked with duskj'; auricular region browner, 

 margined above and below bj^ a postocular and a rictal streak of dusky 

 brownish; a white or buffy white malar stripe margined below by a 

 series of dusky streaks along each side of throat; under parts dull 

 white, more or less tinged- with pale buffy on chest, sides, and flanks, 

 where streaked with dusky; under tail-coverts immaculate; maxilla 

 dusky brownish, mandible much paler (pinkish or lilaceous in life); 

 iris brown; legs and feet pale brownish. 



Young. — Essentially similar to adults, but markings less sharply 

 defined; scapulars and interscapulars broadly edged with pale buffy 

 grayish, and ground color of under parts rather grayish white than 

 buffy. 



Achdt male.—L&ngth. (skins), 139.19-160.11 (144.27); wing, 76.71- 

 83.82 (81.03); tail, 68.67-66.04 (61.21); exposed culmen, 10.67-12.19 

 (11.18); depth of bill at base, 7.87-8.89 (8.38); tarsus, 20.32-22.10 

 (21.08); middle toe, 13.72-15.24 (14.48).' 



Adtilt female.— L^n^ih (skins), 134.62-149.10 (140.46); wing, 72.90- 

 81.28 (77.47); tail, 66.12-61.98 (68.93); exposed culmen, 10.41-11.68 

 (10.92); depth of bill at base (three specimens), 7.62-8.13 (7.87); tarsus, 

 20.07-21.34 (20.57); middle toe, 13.21-15.24 (13.97).' 



' Fourteen specimens. ^ Thirteen .specimens. 



