448 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT. 
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 Melospiza 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, hut 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. 
Catal. 
Sox and 
Locality. 
When col- 
Whence obtained. 
Orig’l 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
No. 
age. 
leeted. 
No. 
of wings. 
10264 
713 
1047 
19 
10147 
10146 
5408 
5407 
6219 
5406 
5414 
5405 
5714 
Union county, Illinois.. 
April 20,1857 
Sept. 8,1842 
9 
ooQ 
9 
3 
9 
s. F. Baird. 
April 15,1842 
July 19,1854 
3 
4.50 
9.00 
2-87 
Aug. 11,1853 
July 19,1856 
9 
3 
3 
9 
6.00 
10.37 
3.25 
Iris dark brown.... 
6.50 
10.87 
3.50 
6.00 
10.50 
3.25 
Iris dark brown.... 
Aug. 4,1856 
191 
W. S. Wood .. 
5713 
5712 
5711 
7085 
8943 
8944 
8945 
8942 
8947 
8796 
260 
9 
9 
3 
9 
Medicine Butte c’k, K.T. 
Aug. 7,1856 
Aug. 25,1856 
July 21,1857 
Sept. 24,1857 
Aug. 18,1857 
July 29,1857 
223 
303 
6.25 
Dr. W. A. Hammond 
54 
6.25 
11.50 
3.25 
Iris brown. 
9 
9 
3 
10.50 
2.75 
....do. 
Loup fork of Platte.... 
6.75 
10.75 
3.75 
6.00 
10.25 
3.25 
6.40 
10.75 
3.25 
9 
Aug. 26,1857 
W. M. Magraw .... 
169 
Dr. J. G. Coopor. 
6.50 
10.50 
3.50 
Iris br’n ; bill black 
and flesh color; 
feet gray. 
8208 
Sept. 8,1857 
190 
7.25? 
10.12 
3.25 
Iris brown ; bill and 
feet flesh color. 
4343 
3 
Aug. —,1853 
56 
5.75 
9.00 
3.00 
Eyes dark; upper 
mandible slate co- 
lor; lower lighter; 
feet light brown.. 
4344 
6220 
6221 
6222 
6223 
6224 
9 
Mar. —,1853 
Mar. —,1855 
44 
5.00 
8.75 
3.75 
.... do.do .... 
61 
. 
