1877.] 121 [Bendire. 



seasons of 1875 and '76. It begins to breed f here about June 1. The 

 male is a superb singer, and as he generally sings only in close prox- 

 imity to the nest (he delights to perch on a dead twig in the tops of 

 the tallest willows growing nearest to the nest) he often betrays it 

 thereby. I found this species breeding near Fort Lapwai, Idaho, in 

 1871. 



61. Cyanospiza am08iia (Baird). Lazuli Finch. 



A rare summer visitor. Have seen this species on but one or two 

 occasions each year. A pair or so breed in a large patch of wild 

 rosebushes close to the post, and these appear to be the only ones 

 about here. In the vicinity of Fort Lapwai, Idaho, it is one of the 

 most common species breeding there. 



62. Pipilo megalonyx (Bd.). Long-clawed Towhee Bunting. 



The amount of white on the outer edge of the outer web of exter- 

 nal tail feathers varies in each of the four specimens before me. 

 None of the hind claws of these specimens are as large, however, as 

 that given in " Birds of North America " (Baird, Brewer and Bidg- 

 way), Vol. ii, p. 113. Measurements are as follows : <S, length 8.50 ; 

 wing 3.50; tail 4 inches; hind toe and claw .83 of an inch. Second, c?, 

 length 8.50 ; wing 3.50; tail 4.25; hind toe and claw .83. Third, d", 

 length 8.60; wing 3.60; tail 4.25; hind toe and claw .78. Fourth, ?, 

 length 8.45; wing 3.25; tail 4 inches; hind toe and claw .85 of an 

 inch. None remain about Camp Harney during the summer, and 

 even in the higher parts of the Blue Mountains I have seen but very 

 few during that season. A nest taken June 15, 1875, placed on the 

 ground in a laurel bush in these mountains, contained two eggs, in 

 which the spots are much larger and of different colors from the eggs 

 of other races of this species. These eggs measure .96 X -69 and 

 .85 X -70 of an inch. Ground color bluish white, marked with light 

 rusty brown and lavender spots and blotches nearly uniformly over 

 the entire egg. It passes north very early in the spring, having been 

 taken March 1, 1875, during a snow storm. While here they fre- 

 quent the willows and wild rose thickets along the creek bottoms. 



63. Pipilo Chlorurus (Baird). Blanding's Finch. 



This handsome species is moderately abundant during the summer 

 months. I took three nests June, 1875; these were all placed in low 

 bushes on side hills, generally close to the tops of the hills, and from 

 a foot to eighteen inches from the ground. There are great variations 

 in their eggs, both in regard to their markings and in the size of the 

 eggs, even when belonging to the same nest. I give the measure- 



