532 
U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS—ZOOLOGY—GENEEAL EEPOET. 
part of the breast, extending some distance down on the median line, and a somewhat hidden space round the anus, yellow. A 
conspicuous white patch at the base of the wing formed by the spurious feathers, interrupted by the black alula. 
Female smaller, browner ; the yellow confined to the under parts and sides of the head, and a superciliary line. A dusky 
maxillary line. No white on the wing. Length of male, 10.00 inches ; wing, 5.GO ; tail, 4.50. 
Hab .—Western America from Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Red river, to California, south into Mexico. Green¬ 
land, Reinhardt. 
The color of the yellow in this species varies considerably ; sometimes being almost of a lemon 
yellow, sometimes of a rich orange. There is an occasional trace of yellow around the base of 
the tarsus. 
The female differs considerably in appearance, as above mentioned. Sometimes the superciliary 
stripe is broader, and involves much of the side of the neck. The feathers on the middle of the 
breast are sometimes edged with whitish. The young male of the year is like the female, hut 
larger, and likewise lacks the white of the wing. Immature males of more adult condition 
have the yellow of the head and neck variously clouded with black margins, especially on the 
upper surface. 
A very young bird has the head and back brownish yellow, the wing coverts with a broad 
bar of white. 
This species is very widely distributed throughout the North American continent, having 
even been found in Greenland. Its eastern limit in the United States appears to be Illinois. It 
is essentially a prairie bird. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex and 
age. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig’l 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
I)r. Hoy. 
1854. 
694.1 
187.1 
o 
S. F. Baird. 
1879. 
.do. 
9840 
o 
4653 
8 
April 25,1855 
Col. Vaughan.... 
532.1 
s 
7003 
$ 
435 
W. S. Wood... 
8230 
8 
Fort Laramie, Neb. 
Sept. —, 1857 
Wm. M. Magraw.. 
205 
Dr. Cooper ... 
10.50 
17.25 
5.50 
Feet black. 
8921 
o 
204 
10.00 
17.00 
5.50 
5674 
V 
July 15,1856 
113 
W. S. Wood... 
8792 
o 
Wm. Magraw.... 
65 
black.... 
8704 
Aug. 26, 1857 
167 
10.50 
17.25 
6 00 
5671 
A 
Sept. 25, 1856 
354 
W. S. Wood... 
6556 
o 
A 
Fort Riley, K. T. 
o 
mor.d. 
4962 
I)r. Swift. 
4045 
May —,1853 
4046 
2 
4996 
July 16, 1856 
109 
10.00 
15.50 
5.00 
yellow. 
4997 
April 26, 1856 
193 
10 00 
16.50 
5.25 
4998 
2 
May 2,1855 
63 
Bill brown ; feet gray. 
8564 
8570 
8 
15 
4594 
55 
8.579 
$ 
Dr. Ileermann . 
4561 
8571 
55.14 
A 
April, 1856... 
466 
1 
4475 
Lieut. Williamson 
