376 FEINGILLIDiE. 



C. strigatus has a very extensive range, embracing a large portion of the United States, 

 frora the western Canadian frontier southwards ; thence it passes into Mexico and onwards 

 to Guatemala, whence we have a single specimen, shot 22nd October, 1873, on the 

 slopes of the mountain range between the volcanoes of Agua and Fuego, at an eleva- 

 tion of about 4000 feet above the sea. 



Though this species breeds in Texas we have no evidence that it is otherwise than 

 a migratory bird in Mexico, and as such it is included by Sumichrast amongst the birds 

 of Vera Cruz ^. Grayson, moreover, states that it arrives in September, and departs in 

 April 10- 



The song of the male is spoken of in high praise by American writers ^. The nest 

 of C. grammaca is a shallow structure placed on the ground, and composed entirely 

 of grasses, sedges, &c. The eggs are usually greyish white, sometimes light brown, 

 marbled and streaked with waving lines of black or blackish brown ^. 



SPIZELLA. 



Spizella, Bonaparte, Saggio di una Distr. Met. An. Vert. p. 140 (Aggiunte, 1832) (type Fringilla 

 pusilla, Wils.) ; Baird, Brew. & Ridgw. N. Am. B. ii. p. 1 ; Coues, Key N. Am. Birds, 

 ed. 2, p. 379. 



This genus contains six or seven more or less distinct northern species, none of which 

 are found beyond the limits of Guatemala, where a close ally of the well-known 

 S. socialis alone is found. Four other species occur in Mexico : of these S. socialis 

 and S. atrigularis are said to be residents ; >S'. pallida and its close western ally S. 

 breweri are probably migrants spending the winter season in Mexico. 



Two other northern species, S. monticola and S. pusilla, have not yet been noticed 

 within our borders, nor have we any tidings of S. wortheni, recently described by Mr. 

 Eidgway. 



The species of this genus are of small size, measuring in total length 5 to 6 inches, 

 the tail is long and slightly forked, the wings rather pointed. The middle of the back 

 is streaked, and the under parts plain in the adult, but streaked in the young in first 

 plumage ; the bill is small and conical ; the tarsus is about equal to the middle toe 

 and claw, the lateral toes being subequal. 



Spizella is so closely related to Zonotrichia, Poospiza, Junco, and Chondesfes, that its. 

 definition is not easily expressed. It may be recognized by its long wings and tail, the 

 latter being decidedly forked, and without white on the lateral feathers ; the under 

 plumage is plain without streaks, the middle back on the contrary being striped. 

 These characters taken together are not found in any of the above-mentioned genera. 



The bill is constructed very like that of many of the Old "World Buntings to which 

 section of the Fringillidse Spizella doubtless belongs. 



