BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 231 



Small or medium-sized semiterrestrial FringillidaB with tail equal to 

 or longer than wing, and more or less graduated; wing rather short 

 and rounded (sometimes very much so), the outermost (ninth) primary 

 not longer than fourth, usually shorter than second, sometimes shorter 

 than secondaries. 



Bill very variable as to relative size and thickness, sometimes large 

 and stout, sometimes small and rather slender; culmen moderately or 

 faintly convex throughout or, usually, straight (sometimes even slightly 

 depressed) in middle portion; gonys about equal to basal depth of bill, 

 or slightly less, straight or faintly convex; maxillary tomium without 

 subterminal notch, faintly concave anteriorly, then faintly convex, again 

 faintly concave just anterior to the nearly concealed basal deflection; 

 mandibular tomium straight, oi- nearly so, to the abruptly deflected basal 

 portion, the subbasal angle sometimes slightly toothed. Rictal bristles 

 indistinct. Nostrils rather nari-ow, longitudinal, more or less pointed 

 anteriorly, overhung by a more or less distinct (usually conspicuous) 

 superior operculum. Wing short (two and three-fourths to nearly 

 three and a-half times as long as tarsus), much rounded, or truncate, 

 at tip (eighth to fifth primaries longest, ninth not longer than fourth, 

 usually shorter than second, sometimes shorter than secondaries), the 

 primaries exceeding secondaries by much less than length of tarsus 

 (usually by less than length of culmen) ; tertials not elongated. Tail 

 equal to or longer than wing,^ sometimes much longer, more or 

 less graduated (graduation sometimes more than half the length of 

 tarsus), the rectrices rather narrow but with rounded tips. Tarsus 

 longer than middle toe with claw;^ lateral toes about equal, their claws 

 falling short of base of middle claw; hind claw decidedly shorter than 

 its digit, the two together not longer (usually shorter) than middle toe 

 without claw. 



Coloration. — Back more or less streaked, or else plain purplish 

 grayish brown; under parts without streaks in adults, except some- 

 times on sides and flanks; otherwise extremely variable (see "Key," 

 pages 233 to 235). 



Range. — Sonoran or Lower Austral districts of United States and 

 southward through Mexico and Central America (chiefly on highlands) 

 to western Costa Rica. 



I am far from satisfied with the limits which are here assigned the genus 

 AiTTuo^phila^ but have not been able, after repeated and tedious efl'orts, 

 to devise any improvement. If Peuccea is to be retained as a separate 

 genus it must be restricted to include only P. cestivalis (with its sub- 

 species), P. hotterii, and P. cassini, since there can be no question 

 that Ammodramus nificeps Cassin and Peuccea carpalis Coues are 



^ Sometimes a little less in specimens with tips of rectrices much worn. 

 'A little shorter only in some specimens of A. humeralw. 



