MELOSPIZA. 387 



N. Am. B. ii. p. 31 "; Lawr. Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277 " ; Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. 

 Surv. iv. p. 18 " J V. p. 390 '' ; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 444 ". 



Supra schistaeeo-brunnea nigricante striata, stria singula utrinque rufo plus minusve limbata, superciliis et stria 

 vertical! schistaceis ; alls et eauda nigricanti-brunneis, rufo limbatis ; subtus alba, gutturis lateribus, pecfcore 

 et hypochondriis cervinis nigro guttulatis, gula ipsa et abdomine medio pure albis ; rostro comeo, mandibula 

 ad basin albida, pedibus pallide corylinis. Long, tota 5-0, alse 2-3, caudae 2-1, tarsi 0-8, dig. med. cum 

 ungue 0-8. (Deser. exempl. ex Jalapa, Mexico. Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. NoETH America generally io,Texas8i2i3._]y[5;xico2, Tamaulipas {Couch% Mazatlan, 

 Tepic (Grayson ^\ Forrer), State of Vera Cruz {Sumichrast% Jalapa [de Oca% 

 Totontepic, Teotalcingo, Oaxaca {Boucard ''), Izamal ( Gaumer ^*) ; Guatemala, 

 Duefias^, Coban {0. 8. & F. D.G.); Panama {Aspinwall lo). 



The only evidence we have of the occurrence of this species so far south as the State 

 of Panama is the statement by Dr. Brewer to that effect ^'^. We have never ourselves 

 seen specimens from any point further south than Guatemala, where M. lincolni is not 

 uncommon in marshy places during the winter months. In Mexico it is also not 

 uncommon at that season ; but Grayson, who says it is very abundant in winter in the 

 coast-region of Western Mexico, adds that at Tepic it is found at all seasons ^^. This 

 latter statement we think requires some confirmation, seeing how very far north or to 

 what an altitude M. lincolni flies before selecting its breeding-ground. Sumichrast 

 gives it amongst the migratory birds of the State of Vera Cruz ^. 



In North America M. lincolni is found generally distributed at some period of the 

 year either in its summer or winter quarters or during the spring or autumn migrations. 

 It breeds in Labrador and in the valleys of the Yukon and Mackenzie rivers, as well 

 as in the State of New York and in New England. Further south it is said to breed 

 in the mountains of Colorado. 



The nest is built in a tussock of grass, and the eggs are of a pale greenish-white 

 ground, thickly marked with spots and blotches of ferruginous brown, often so thickly 

 as to partly conceal the ground-colour i^. 



2. Melospiza montana. 



Melospiza melodia, Baird, Mex. Bound. Surv. ii. Birds, p. 16 \ 



Melospiza fasciata montana, Henshaw, Auk, 1884, p. 233°. 



Supra cinereo-fusca, pilei lateribus rufis nigro striatis, interscapulii plumis medialiter macula nigra rufo utrinque 

 limbata notatis, uropygio quoque guttato ; alis et cauda nigricanti-brunneis extus rufo limbatis ; super- 

 ciliis albidis ; subtus albus, cervicis lateribus, pectore, hypocbondriis et erisso obscure brunneo guttatis ; 

 rostro corneo, mandibula pallida, pedibus corylinis. Long, tota 6-0, alse 2-8, caudae 3-0, rostri a rictu 0-55, 

 tarsi 0-85. (Descr. exempl. ex "Wyoming, Smiths. Inst. 61041. Mus. Brit.) 



Hab. North America, Great Basin generally 2.— Mexico, Boca Grande [Kennerly^ 



In answer to inquiries, Mr. Eidgway writes to say that the Boca Grande specimen 

 named Melospiza melodia by Prof. Baird belongs to the race recently separated by 

 Mr. Henshaw as M. fasciata montana. There are specimens in the British Museum 



49* 



