416 FEINGILLID^. 



name Spiza should be used instead of Euspiza, both being introduced by Bonaparte, 

 and based apparently on the same type, 8. americana. 



Spiza is practically a monotypic genus, for 8. townsendi is only known from a single 

 specimen, the status of which has given rise to much perplexity. 8. americana, on the 

 other hand, is a very common, widely spread species, which breeds in the States, and 

 migrates southwards in winter. 



The bill in 8. americana is stout, the culmen slightly arched and produced backwards 

 to the forehead, the tomia of the mandible is angular and anteriorly slightly undulating ; 

 the nostrils are deeply sunk in the nasal fossa, and have a supervening membrane. The 

 wings are long and pointed, the first primary being the longest, the second and third 

 nearly equalling the first. The tail is short and nearly even. The tarsus and middle 

 toe are subequal ; the lateral toes are also subequal, but do not reach to the base of the 

 .middle claw. 



1. Spiza americana. 



Emberiza americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 872 \ 



Euspiza americana, Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, p. 142''; 1857, p. 205'; Scl. & Salv. Itis, 1859, p. 18 " ; 



P.Z. S. 1864, p. 353'; 1870, p. 836''; 1879, p. 508''; Cass. Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 140'; 



Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 298 ' ; viii. p. 181 " ; ix. p. 103 " ; Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, 



p. 21 " ; Mem. Bost. Soc. N. H. ii. p. 277 " ; Dresser, Ibis, 1865, p. 490 " ; Salv. P. Z. S. 



1867, p. 142''; 1870, p. 190" ; Sumichrast, Mein. Bost. Soc. N. H. i. p. 552"; Prantz. 



J. f. Om. 1869, p. 301 "; Wyatt, Ibis, 1871, p. 328 "; Baird, Brew., & Ridgw. N. Am. B. 



ii. p. 65 ""s Sennett, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 19 '^ v. p. 392". 

 Spiza americana, Ridgw. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii. p. 3^'; Coues, Key N. Am. B. ed. 2, p. 387 ". 



Supra griseo-fusca, interscapulii plumis medialiter nigris lateraUter brunneis, nucba et capitis lateribus cinereis, 

 vertice antica oleagineo lavato ; superoiliis, macula gulari, pectore, abdomine medio anticoque et subalaribus 

 flavis ; alis et cauda fuscis, secundariis extus et tectricibus omnibus minoribus Isete castaneis ; gula antica 

 et abdomine imo albis, gulapostica nigra ; rostro corneo, pedibus fuscis. Long, tota 6'3, alae 3-3, caudae 2-5, 

 rostri a rictu 065, tarsi 0-9. (Descr. exempl. ex Angostura, Costa Eica. Mus. nostr.) 



5 mari similis, macula gulari nigra nulla, sed pectore nigro striate, tectricibus alarum fusco limbatis baud 

 castaneis &c. distinguenda. 



Hob. North America, Atlantic States to border of Central Plains ^o, Texas i* ^i 22^ 

 Arizona^*. — Mexico, Mazatlan (Grayson ^^), State of Vera Cruz in winter 

 (Sumichrast ^^), San Andres Tuxtla (8alU ^), Jalapa (de Oca), Juchitan, Guichicovi, 

 Tehuantepec city (Sumichrast ^^), Jolbox Island, Mugeres Island, Cozumel Island, 

 coast of Yucatan (G. F. Gaumer) ; British Honduras (Blancaneaux), Half-Moon 

 Cay (0. 8.) ; Guatemala (Skinner *), Volcan de Agua above San Diego, Retalhuleu, 

 Huamuchal (0. 8. & F. J). G) ; Honduras, Euatan Island (C F. Gaumer), San Pedro 

 .(6r. M. Whiiely^); Nicaragua, Grey town {Holland'^^) ; Costa Eica (v. Frantzius), 

 Tabacales (v. Frantzius ^^), San Jose, Dota, Angostura (Carmiol ^^), Nicoya (Arce) ; 

 Panama, -David (Bridges^, iTic^s), Chitra (ArcS^^), Lion Hill (M'Leannan^^), 

 Paraiso Station (Hughes), Turbo ( Wood ^). — Colombia '^ ^^ ; Venezuela. 



