ZOOLOGY. 697 
ters fall entirely within the normal limits of individual variation 
in this or any other one of our sparrows.* My specimens of Baird’s 
bunting, over fifty in number, including both sexes, all ages from 
the nest upward, and various changeable states of plumage, run 
from 5:10 to 5°85 in length, by 9°10 to 9:90 in extent, and show 
variations to match in other dimensions and proportions of parts. 
As to color, they range from some with the head-stripe only faintly 
buffy-gray, to others with this part rich golden brown ( just as in 
the golden-crowned thrush) and the rest of the head suffused with 
the same color ; these extremes shading insensibly into each other. 
Some of the youngest specimens differ still more from the adults ; 
being in a plumage hitherto unknown, and one so decidedly pecu- 
liar that under other circumstances of capture they might not have 
been referred to Centronyx at all. I shall take another occasion 
to complete the biography of Passerculus Bairdii respecting which 
my notes are now quite full. 
Next to Baird’s bunting the Missouri skylark (Anthus Spraguei) 
is one of the commonest birds which breed on the prairie region 
above indicated, about equalling in abundance the chestnut-col- 
lared bunting (Plectrophanes ornatus). It is another example of 
the curious fact that a very abundant bird, and one inhabiting 
no inaccessible region, may by mere accident remain for years al- 
most unknown. Of this species, introduced to us under the same 
circumstances as those attending the discovery of Baird’s bunting, 
I never, until this season, saw but two prepared specimens ; Audu- 
bon’s type, and one other, taken on the Saskatchewan by Capt. 
Blakiston, both in the Smithsonian. Another taken at Fort Ran- 
dall, Dakota, by Capt. J. P. McCown, is said to be in Mr. Law- 
rence’s cabinet. I am satisfied that I saw the bird myself at Fort 
Randall early last spring, but I can show no specimen to vouch 
for the statement. This summer, however, I have collected a 
large number, at various points along the 49th parallel. Among 
them are some nestlings just ready to fly, in a very pretty plumage 
materially different from that of the adults. Others show the 
transition toward the mature state. Fresh measurements of adult 
individuals exceed some that have been recorded in my work and 
elsewhere ; the length being up to 6-50, the extent to 11-00, the 
wing to 3°30 ; an average is about 6:25 10°60 X3-20.—E. Cours. 
“Information heat ‘ved Tom Pr ape este since the above was rriten confirms my 
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