FRINGILLID/E. 261 



feebly constructed ; but that this is compensated by an additional strength being- 

 given to the feet, which in their whole structure are obviously more robust ; 

 while the greater development of the hinder toe and its claw gives to maculata 

 a more typical perfection than is seen in arctica. In regard to colour, the whole 

 upper plumage of maculata is strongly tinged with olive, but which, in the male 

 of arctica, is grey*. — Sw. 



This handsome Ground-Finch was observed only on the plains of the Saskat- 

 chewan, where it no doubt breeds, as one specimen was killed late in July. It 

 arrives in the end of May, and frequents shady and moist clumps of wood, being 

 generally seen on the ground. Its habits, as far as they were observed, cor- 

 respond with those of the Towhe Bunting, which it much resembles in external 

 appearance. It feeds on grubs, and is a solitary and retired, but not a distrustful 

 bird. 



DESCRIPTION 

 Of a male, killed at Carlton House, 1st July, 1827- 



Colour. — Head, neck above and below, scapulars, interscapulars, all the wing coverts, 

 and tail, pitch-black ; some of the breast feathers fringed with white. A pure white stripe, 

 half the breadth of the web, on the outer edge of each of the scapulars and interscapulars, 

 and the greater and lesser coverts tipped with the same-f . The three exterior pairs of tail 

 feathers tipped internally with an oval patch of white, the outer pair also edged with white. 

 Quills hair-brown, the second to the fourth inclusive partially edged with an oblique white 

 line, the rest narrowly edged with light French-grey. Middle of the breast and belly pure 

 white ; sides, flanks, and under tail coverts deep and bright ferruginous. Inner wing coverts 

 greyish-white. Bill pitch-black. Legs pale-brown. 



Form, strictly typical. 



The female, killed on the 29th of May, has the parts which are black in the male ferru- 

 ginous, except the tail, which is blackish-brown. The upper plumage also exhibits an 

 obscure, but decided olive tinge, particularly on the back and edges of the feathers of 

 the wings. Another female, killed on the 1st of July, differs merely in the crown being 

 glossed with yellowish-brown and the tail with umber. The pure white markings in both 



• On comparing our male bird with five specimens of the same sex of Pipilo erythropthalma, killed this year, near 

 New York, the following differences, independent of plumage, characterise the present species. The bill is smaller, 

 and the oilmen less arched, giving to this a more conic appearance ; the claws are more gracile, somewhat longer, and 

 obviously less curved ; the tarsi are less robust, and one-tenth of an inch shorter. The first quill feather is mani- 

 festly longer, and this exercises a material difference on the general formation of the wing ; so that, in Arctica, the 

 first and eighth quill feathers are nearly equal in length ; whereas, in P. erythropthalma, the first quill feather is 

 scarcely equal to several of the secondaries. This latter character alone is sufficient to demonstrate their specific 

 difference. — Sw. 



\ In P. maculata the upper part of the neck, and particularly the back, is saturated with olive-brown, the black 

 being confined to a line on the inner side of the white stripes above mentioned. The stripes themselves and the tips 

 of the covers are delicately tinged half way with ferruginous. The posterior quills are edged with obscure olive. The 

 sides and under plumage as in P. arctica. — Sw. 



