448 
U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL EE POET. 
In autumn the dark streaks are less sharply defined, and there is a tinge of very pale cinna- 
mon on the breast. 
The form of this species differs considerably from that of Ilelospiza melodia. The bill is less 
sinuated along the edge of the mandible. The wing is much longer, and more pointed ; the 
first quill nearly as long as the fourth ; the second and third equal, and longest. The tail 
feathers are acuminate, pointed, and quite stiff; the toes are shorter ; the claws rather straighter. 
I find a good deal of difference in specimens before me, but I am unable to say how important 
these are for want of a sufficient number of eastern skins to determine the limits of variation 
in the species. Western specimens, however, appear larger, grayer, and with fewer and 
narrower streaks on the breast ; the legs in some appear longer ; the bill more slender. The 
colors generally are more gray. Young birds of the western variety are marked almost exactly 
like the adults, except that they are paler above ; the feathers edged broadly with light grayish. 
Without being assured that there is a difference of species, it may be as well to recognize a 
western variety confinis, characterised as grayer than the eastern species, legs and wings longer, 
bill more slender and straighter, streaks on the breast narrower. 
List of specimens. 
Sex and 
age. 
Locality. 
When col- 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig'l 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
Red river Min 
N. W. University 
R. Kennicott 
Union county Illinois 
April 20,1857 
do 
o 
ooQ 
9 
3 
9 
Sept. 8,1842 
June 3,1843 
April 15,1842 
S F Baird 
do 
July 19,1854 
Lt. G. K. Warren.. 
8 
4.50 
9.00 
2-87 
Aug. 11,1853 
July 19,1856 
9 
8 
3 
9 
9 
9 
3 
Lt. G. K. Warren.. 
6.00 
10.37 
3.25 
Iris dark brown.... 
6.50 
10.87 
3.50 
Yellowstone river, Neb. 
6.00 
10.50 
3.25 
Iris dark brown.... 
Aug. 4, 1856 
191 
260 
223 
Medicine Butte c>k,K.T. 
Aug. 7, 1856 
Aug. 25,1856 
July 21,1857 
Sept. 24, 1857 
Aug. 18,1857 
303 
6.25 
Dr.W. A.Hammond 
Lt. Warren 
..." 
9 
Dr. Hayden 
6.25 
11.50 
3.25 
Iris brown 
9 
9 
8 
9 
do 
do 
10.50 
2.75 
Loup fork of Platte.... 
July 29,1857 
6.75 
10.75 
3.75 
6.00 
10.25 
3.25 
6.40 
10.75 
3.25 
Near Laramie 
Aug. 26,1857 
W. M. Magraw .... 
169 
Dr. J. G. Cooper. 
6.50 
10.50 
3.50 
Iris br'n ; bill black 
Sept. 8,1857 
Aug. —,1853 
190 
do 
7.25? 
10.12 
3.25 
and flesh color; 
Iris brown ; bill and 
3 
9 
Tarnaulipas, Mex 
Lt. Couch 
56 
5.75 
9.00 
3.00 
feet flesh color. 
Eyes dark ; upper 
Mar. —,1853 
44 
5.00 
mandible slate co- 
lor; lower lighter; 
feet light brown.. 
Mar. —,1855 
37 
Boca Grande, Mex. 
61 
Fcrt Steilacoom, VV. T 
