218 
Ridgway on a New Species of P enema. 
137. Anas boschas. Mallard. — Winter; common. 
138. Mareca americana. American Widgeon. — Winter; com- 
mon, but most abundant during its migrations. 
139. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. — Winter; com- 
mon, but most numerous during the migrations. 
140. Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe ; “ Diedap- 
per.” — Winter; common; most numerous during its migrations. 
ON A NEW SPECIES OF PEUCJEA FROM SOUTHERN 
ILLINOIS AND CENTRAL TEXAS. 
BY ROBERT RIDGWAY. 
Bachman’s Finch ( Peuccea cestivalis ) is a species of some celebrity 
on account of its very restricted range. During the summer of 
1871, the writer discovered what he supposed to be this species in 
Southern Illinois, as far north as latitude 38° 25', thus, apparently, 
very considerably extending its range. The specimens obtained were 
in very much worn and faded midsummer plumage, and at the time 
no suspicion existed that they might prove different from South- 
eastern examples, undue allowance having been made for seasonal 
changes of plumage. Subsequently, however, upon examining speci- 
mens collected in the summer of 1875, by Messrs E. W. Nelson and 
F. T. Jencks, which were in better plumage than those I obtained, 
it was noticed that the breast in the Illinois birds was much more 
deeply buff or ochraceous, and the upper parts more “ sandy,” than 
in Florida and Georgia specimens, w r ith a comparative or entire ab- 
sence of the black streaks characteristic of the true cestivalis. Still, 
I hesitated to describe the Illinois bird as a distinct race, not feeling 
quite sure that in its winter plumage it would not resemble more 
closely the Florida bird, of which most of the specimens I had seen 
were obtained at that season. More recently, however, I have 
examined several summer specimens from Liberty County and 
Savannah, Georgia, all of which were still different from the Illinois 
birds; and I have lately seen three fine skins, collected in the 
“Lower Cross Timbers” and “Post Oak Woods” of Cook Co., 
Texas, by Mr. Geo. H. Ragsdale, which confirm the suspicion I have 
from time to time entertained, that the differences observable might 
