BIRDS—FK1NGILLIDAE-PYRRHULOXIA. 
507 
Sp. C H .—The top and sides of the head, back of the neck, a broad band across the upper part of the breast extending all 
round, the middle of the back, the wings and tail, with the posterior upper coverts, black. The chin, upper throat and neck 
all round, but interrupted behind, the rump, with the remaining under and lateral portions of the body, White ; the latter tinged 
with brownish yellow. Two bands on the wing, across the greater and middle coverts, with the concealed bases of all the 
quills, also white. Length, about 4 inches ; wing, 2.05 ; tail, 1.90. 
Female, dull yellow ; olivaceous above, brownish yellow beneath. Wings and tail somewhat as in the male. 
Hab.— Rio Grande of Texas ; south to Honduras. 
The specimen upon which the preceding description of the male has been based is the only 
one in full plumage I have seen, and was kindly lent by Mr. P. L. Sclater. It was collected in 
Honduras. Some of the feathers of the back have grayish tips. The specimen described by 
Mr. Lawrence as S. albogularis, though male, is, in most respects, like the female, except that 
the wings and tail are darker, the color of the upper part grayer, and the interscapular feathers 
blotched with black. The black of the head is strongly indicated, the feathers, however, all 
with gray margins. In this and another, a little further advanced, from San Diego, Mexico, 
(4096,) there is a very faint indication of the black pectoral band, and there is no trace of the 
whitish of the rump. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When 
collected. 
Whence obtained. 
Original 
No. 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
4096 
San Diego. N. Leon,Mex. 
Mar. , 1853 
113 
3.75 
5.00 
6.25 
2.00 
Bill black; feet brownish slate...* 
4095 
<?? 
April —, 1853 
163 
4.50 
2.00 
9118 
eyes brown. 
PYRRHULOXIA, Bonaparte. 
Pyrrhuloxia , Bonaparte, Conspectus, 1850, 500. Type Cardinalis sinualus , Bonap. 
Ch. —The bill is very short and much curved, the culmen forming an arc of a circle of 60 degrees or more, and ending 
at a right angle with the straight gonys ; the commissure abruptly much angulated anterior to the nostrils in its middle point; 
the lower jaw very much wider than the upper, and wider than the gonys is long ; anterior portion of commissure straight. Tarsus 
longer than middle toe ; outer lateral toes longer, not reaching the base of the middle ; wing considerably rounded, first quill 
longer than secondaries. Tail much longer than the wing, graduated ; the feathers broad, truncate. Head crested. 
Color. —Gray, with red feathers and patches. 
The essential character of this genus lies in the greatly curved, very short, and broad bill, 
something like that of Pyrrliula. In other respects like Cardinalis , but with less graduated 
wing, and longer and broader tail. 
Comparative measurements of species. 
Catal. No. 
Species. 
Locality. 
Sex. 
Length. 
Stretch of 
wings. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tarsus. 
Middle toe. 
Its claw 
alone. 
Hind toe 
and claw. 
Hind claw 
alone. 
Bill above. 
Along gape. 
Specimen 
measured. 
6370 
Pyrrhuloxia sinuata... 
8.00 
3.79 
4.66 
1.00 
0.98 
0.27 
0.64 
0.29 
0.62 
0.52 
6369 
o 
7.70 
3.66 
4.34 
0.96 
0.94 
0.30 
0.64 
0.30 
0 59 
0.55 
10283 
Cardinalis Virginian us. 
V 
a 
8.90 
3.76 
4.68 
0.97 
0.90 
0.22 
0.60 
0.26 
0 68 
0.74 
4030 
o 
-a 
7.70 
4.24 
0.99 
0.80 
0.24 
0.60 
0.26 
0.66 
0.74 
do. 
6 
8.50 
11.25 
3.50 
Freeh 
4032 
o 
8.60 
3.59 
4.49 
0.84 
0.90 
0.26 
0.58 
0.28 
0.70 
0.72 
do. 
.do.. 
V 
7.75 
10.00 
3.50? 
