OREGON SNOW-BIRD. 91 



and fourth quills longest, the second nearly as long, the first little shorter. 

 Tail long, forked, the lateral feathers curved outwards a little towards the 

 tip. 



Bill white, tinged with red, dark coloured at the tip. Iris blackish-brown. 

 Feet and claws flesh-coloured. Head, neck, fore part of the breast, back, 

 wings and upper part of the sides blackish-grey, deeper on the head. Quills 

 margined with whitish; tail of the same dark colour as the wings, excepting 

 the two outer feathers on each side, which are white, as are the lower breast 

 and abdomen. 



Length 6^ inches, extent of wings 9; beak ^ along the ridge, J along the 

 gap; tarsus f , middle toe \. 



Adult Female. 



The female differs from the male in being of a lighter grey, tinged on the 

 back with brown. Length 5h inches. 



OREGON SNOW-BIRD. 



-Niphjea Oregona, Toivns. 



PLATE CLXVIII.— Male and Female. 



This species, which is so nearly allied to our Common Snow-bird, is 

 another of those recently added to our Fauna by Mr. Townsend, from 

 whom I purchased several specimens. All that I know of its habits is 

 derived from the following notice given me by Mr. Nuttall. "It was 

 first seen by us in the woods of the Columbia, in the autumn and winter, 

 flitting about in small flocks, always in the forest, never in the open fields, 

 or on the way-sides. At this time they rarely utter an occasional chirp, or 

 remain wholly silent. We afterwards saw them inhabiting the same woods 

 throughout the summer, in diminished numbers, or in pairs, but I do not 

 recollect hearing them utter any song, though they are probably not silent 

 in the season of breeding. With the nest, eggs, and young I am not ac- 

 quainted." 



I have represented the male and female from specimens procured by Mr. 

 Townsend on the Columbia river, on the 5th of October, 1834. 



Columbia river. Common. Migratory. 



