PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 127 



66. *Amphispiza bilineata, (Cass.) 



Much more common in summer than winter. The nests are placed in 

 low, thick bushes, rarely more than two feet from the ground. The eggs, 

 when fresh, have a decided bluish tinge.— (Sennett, B. Kio Grande, 

 18.— Poospiza Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 488.) 



67. Spizella socialis, (Wils.) 



April.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 489.— Sennett, B. Eio Grande, 19.) 



68. Spizella pallida, (Swains.) 



Very abundant duriug the winter months, but I do not think that 

 any remain to breed.— (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 489.— Sennett, B. Eio 

 Grande, 19.) 



69. Melospiza melodia, (Wils.) 

 February and December. 



70. Melospiza lincolni, (Aud.) 



Very common in winter. — (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 489. — Sennett, B. 

 Eio Grande, 18.) 



71. Peucaea arizonse, Ridgw.* 



Found in some abundance on a salt prairie about nine miles from 

 Fort Brown, but obtained with difficulty, as they could rarely be flushed 

 from among the tall grass. Its notes were frequently heard, and are 

 quite pleasing. A nest found June 16, 1877, was placed among the 

 roots of a tussock of grass : it was made of blades and stems of grasses, 

 aud was rather deep, but so frail that it fell to pieces ou removal. The 

 eggs, four in number, were quite fresh. They are unspotted white, 

 strongly tinged with greenish blue, and measure .82 by .63. 



* The great variation in size and color between the set of eggs of P. arizonce and 

 those of P. aestivalis appears to rue to be incons stent, with their belonging to birds of 

 the same species. In North American Birds, I speak of the color of aestivalis as being a 

 pure, almost brilliant, white, and their size .74 by .60. This is probably a little smaller 

 than the average. An egg taken by Dr. Bryant in Florida measures .76 by .61. 

 Three eggs, taken by Dr. Gerhardt in Northern Georgia, measure .80 by .62, .78 by .61, 

 and .72 by .60. Their color is crystalline white, similar in brilliancy to the eggs of a 

 Woodpecker. On the other hand, the four eggs of P. arizoncs measure .>-5 by .64, .88 by 

 .64, .82 by .65, .80 by .62, averaging .82£ by .63$, the average of aestivalis being .77 by .61. 

 The eggs of P. cassini have the same crystalline whiteness as those of aestivalis, while 

 those of P. carpalis correspond in color with those of avizonw, and average .73 by .58. 

 The color of the eggs of P. avizonce is of a very light blue, with just a tinge of green, 

 but to some eyes it appears to be a greenish-white. — T. M. B. 



[Without specimens of this form in good plumage, it is quite impossible to determine 

 the question of its relationship to P. aestivalis by the skins alone. All the specimens I 

 have seen are, unfortunately, in the greatly worn and faded midsummer plumage, ami, 

 though resembling examples of P. aestivalis in corresponding dress, are easily distin- 

 guishable. Considering the latter fact, in connection with the radical difference in 

 their eggs, as insisted on by Dr. Brewer, I think, upon the whole, that the bird may 

 yet prove to be a distinct species.— R. R.] 



