Front matter (continued 3)

Male, 8; wing, 3⁹/₁₂.

Rocky Mountains. Common. Migratory.

Orpheus montanus, Mountain Mocking-Bird, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 192.

Mountain Mocking Bird, Turdus montanus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 487.

140. 3. Orpheus Carolinensis, Linn. Black-capped Mocking-Bird.—Cat Bird.

Plate CXXVIII. Male and Female.

Blackish-grey, lighter beneath; upper part of head black; lower tail-coverts deep red. Female with the tints duller. Lateral tail-feathers more or less banded with lighter, sometimes whitish tints.

Male, 9, 12.

From Texas to Massachusetts, inland to the Missouri. Accidental in the Fur Countries. Constant resident in the Southern States. Abundant.

Cat Bird, Turdus lividus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 90.

Turdus felivox, Bonap. Syn. p. 75.

Orpheus felivox, Cat Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 192.

Cat Bird, Turdus felivox, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 332.

Cat Bird, Turdus felivox, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 171; v. v. p. 440.

141. 4. Orpheus rufus, Linn. Ferruginous Mocking-Bird.—Thrushes. Brown Thrush.

Bill and tail more elongated than in the other species, wings shorter. Upper parts light brownish-red; inner webs of quills dusky. Wings crossed by two white bars margined anteriorly with black, being on the tips of the first row of small and secondary coverts; lower parts yellowish-white, the breast and sides marked with triangular dark brown spots. Female smaller.

Male, 11¹/₂, 13.

From Texas eastward, and to the Fur Countries, breeding everywhere. Abundant, and resident in the Southern and Western States.

Ferruginous Thrush, Turdus rufus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 83.

Turdus rufus, Bonap. Syn. p. 75.

Orpheus rufus, Fox-coloured Mocking-Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 189.

Ferruginous Thrush or Thrasher, Turdus rufus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 328.

Ferruginous Thrush, Turdus rufus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 102; v. v. p. 441.

GENUS IV. TURDUS, Linn. THRUSH.

Bill of moderate length or shortish, rather stout, straight, broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end, acute; upper mandible with the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex toward the end, the notches small, the tip narrow; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length, the dorsal line ascending, slightly convex, the sides rounded, the tip narrow. Nostrils oblong, partially concealed by the feathers. Head of ordinary size, ovate; neck rather short; body rather full. Feet longish, rather strong; tarsus as long as the middle toe and claw; hind toe rather stout; lateral toes equal; claws arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft and rather blended. Wings of moderate length, rounded, the first quill very small, the third and fourth longest. Tail rather long, nearly even.

142. 1. Turdus migratorius, Linn. Migratory Thrush.—Robin.

Plate CXXXI. Male, Female, and Young.

Male with the bill yellow, the upper part and sides of the head black; upper parts dark grey with an olivaceous tinge; quills blackish-brown, margined with light grey; tail brownish-black, the outer two feathers tipped with white; three white spots about the eye, throat white, densely streaked with black; lower part of fore neck, breast, sides, axillars, and lower wing-coverts reddish-orange; abdomen white; lower tail-coverts dusky, tipped with white. Female with the tints paler. Young with the fore neck, breast, and sides, pale-reddish, spotted with dusky, the upper parts darker than in the adult. Bill at first dusky, ultimately pure yellow.

Male, 10, 14. Female, 9, 13.

From Texas eastward and northward, to the Fur Countries. Throughout the interior. Winters in abundance in all the southern States. Columbia River. Abundant.

Robin, Turdus migratorius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 35.

Turdus migratorius, Bonap. Syn. p. 75.

Merula migratoria, Red-breasted Thrush, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 176.

American Robin or Migratory Thrush, Turdus migratorius, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 338.

American Robin or Migratory Thrush, Turdus migratorius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 190; v. v. p. 442.

143. 2. Turdus nævius, Gmel. Varied Thrush.

Plate CCCLXIX. Fig. 2, 3. Male. Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 6. Female.

Male with the bill black, the upper parts deep leaden-grey, the head darker; quills and tail-feathers dusky, the outer webs of the latter tinged with grey, and their tips white; lore dusky; a band of reddish-orange from over the fore part of the eye down the side of the neck; two conspicuous bands of the same crossing the wing obliquely, being formed by the tips of the first row of small coverts, and those of the secondary coverts; outer webs of primary coverts about the middle, a band on the primaries near the base, part of their outer webs towards the end, and the tips of the secondaries pale reddish-orange; lower parts light reddish-orange, paler behind; a band of greyish-black passing down the side of the neck, and a belt of the same crossing its lower part; feathers of the sides tipped with bluish-grey; those of the middle of the abdomen white; lower tail-coverts tipped with white; axillar feathers white, tipped with grey, smaller coverts grey, tipped with reddish-white; primary coverts grey, secondary nearly white. Female similar, with the upper parts tinged with olive-brown, the reddish-orange bands much paler, the tail-feathers margined with dull reddish-brown; a band on the lore down the sides of the neck and across it light greyish-brown; the orange tints of the lower parts much paler.

Male, 10¹/₂, wing, 5¹/₄. Female, 10, wing, 5²/₁₂.

Columbia River, North California, and Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Orpheus meruloides, Thrush-like Mock-Bird, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 187.

Varied Thrush, Turdus nævius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 489; v. v. p. 284.

144. 3. Turdus mustelinus, Gmel. Wood-Thrush.

Plate LXXIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts light yellowish-brown, the head and hind neck of a tint approaching to reddish-orange; the rump and tail-coverts duller and of an olivaceous tint; quills and tail-coverts light olive-brown, the outer webs of the coverts and quills like the back; eyes margined with a whitish circle; lower parts white, anteriorly tinged with yellow, the sides and lower part of the neck, the fore part of the breast, and the sides of the body marked with large roundish or broadly ovato-triangular decided brownish-black spots.

Male, 8, 13.

From Texas to Nova Scotia, and throughout the interior. Many spend the winter in Louisiana, Florida, and Texas. Abundant.

Wood Thrush, Turdus melodus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 35.

Turdus mustelinus, Bonap. Syn. p. 75.

Wood Thrush, Turdus mustelinus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 343.

Wood Thrush, Turdus mustelinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 372; v. v. p. 446.

145. 4. Turdus Wilsoni, Bonap. Tawny Thrush.

Plate CLXVI. Male.

Wings with the third quill largest, the fourth scarcely shorter, and slightly exceeding the second. Upper parts uniform light reddish-brown, a little deeper on the head; quill and tail-coverts light olive-brown, the outer webs of the former like the back; lower parts greyish-white, the sides and lower part of the neck, and a small portion of the breast tinged with pale yellowish-brown, and marked with small faint and undecided triangular brown spots. Female an inch less in length than the male, but otherwise similar.

Male, 7²/₁₂, 12.

From Texas to the Fur Countries, as well as in the interior. Resident in winter in the Floridas, though the greater number remove beyond the United States. Rather abundant.

Tawny Thrush, Turdus mustelinus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 98.

Turdus Wilsonii, Bonap. Syn. p. 76.

Merula minor (Swainson), Little Tawny Thrush, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 179, Plate 36. The description and figure clearly refer to the present species.

Wilson's Thrush or Veery, Turdus Wilsonii, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 349.

Tawny Thrush, Turdus Wilsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 362; v. v. p. 446.

146. 5. Turdus solitarius, Wils. Hermit Thrush.

Plate LVIII. Male and Female.

Wings with the fourth quill longest, the third and fifth equal and slightly shorter, the second nearly equal to the sixth. Upper parts light olivaceous brown, the rump and upper tail-coverts brownish-red, as is the tail; quills dusky brown, margined with reddish-brown; a whitish ring round the eye; lower parts white, the sides tinged with greyish-olive, the fore part of the neck very slightly with yellowish-brown, and marked with rather decided ovato-triangular dusky brown spots of moderate size. The female is smaller, but otherwise similar.

Male, 7, 10¹/₂.

From Texas to the Fur Countries. Resident in winter from the Carolinas southward. Rather common.

Hermit Thrush, Turdus solitarius, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 95.

Turdus minor, Bonap. Syn. p. 75.

Little or Hermit Thrush, Turdus minor, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 346.

Merula solitaria, Hermit Thrush, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 184.

Hermit Thrush, Turdus minor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 303; v. v. p. 445.

147. 6. Turdus nanus, Aud. Dwarf Thrush.

Plate CCCCXIX. Fig. 1. Male.

Wings with the fourth quill longest, the third and fifth equal and slightly shorter, the second shorter than the sixth. Upper parts light olivaceous-brown, the rump and upper tail-coverts brownish-red, as is the tail; quills dusky brown, margined with light brownish-red; a whitish ring round the eye; lower parts greyish-white, the sides tinged with greyish-brown, the neck and breast tinged with yellowish-red, and marked with broad triangular blackish-brown spots, becoming fainter on the hind part of the breast and sides.

Although this species closely resembles the last in its colours, and the proportions of the quills, it is yet so much inferior in size, and its bill, tarsi, and toes are so much shorter, that it cannot be considered otherwise than as distinct.

Male 6, 9¹/₂.

Columbia River. Accidental in the Middle Atlantic districts. Migratory.

Turdus nanus, Dwarf Thrush, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 201.

FAMILY XIII. MOTACILLINÆ. WAGTAILS.

Bill of moderate length, straight, slender, a little broader than high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line sloping, a little convex toward the end, the nostrils slight, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and scarcely convex, the edges somewhat involute, the tip acute. General form slender; head ovato-oblong; neck short. Feet of ordinary length, slender; toes very slender, the lateral equal, the outer adherent at the base, the hind toe rather large; claws rather long, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe generally very long. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles small. Wings long and pointed, one of the minor secondaries often much elongated and tapering. Tongue sagittate, slender, with the tip slit; œsophagus uniform; stomach a very muscular gizzard, roundish, with large tendons, and thin rugous epithelium; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles.

This family is connected with the Turdinæ by Seiurus, and with the Alandinæ by Anthus, which are the only two American genera.

GENUS I. SEIURUS, Swains. WOOD-WAGTAILS.

Bill rather short, straight, slightly broader than deep at the base, compressed toward the end, the edges a little inflected, the dorsal lines of both mandibles slightly convex, the notches very slight, the tip acute. Nostrils basal elliptical. General form slender; head ovato-oblong. Feet of ordinary length; tarsus slender, compressed, covered anteriorly with a long undivided piece and three inferior scutella; toes of moderate length, slender; the first a little stouter than the third, the inner slightly shorter than the outer, which is adherent at the base; claws of moderate length, very slender, much compressed, moderately arched, acute. Plumage soft, blended. Bristles very small. Wings of moderate length; the first or outer quill little shorter than the third, which is longest. Tail of moderate length, even.

148. 1. Seiurus aurocapillus, Lath. Golden-crowned Wood-Wagtail.

Plate CXLIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts yellowish-olive, the crown brownish-orange, with two lateral bands of brownish-black spots; lower parts white, the throat with two lateral lines of brownish-black, the lower neck, fore part of breast, and sides, marked with triangular spots of the same. Female similar to the male. Young without the orange crown.

Male, 6, 9.

From Texas eastward. Fur Countries. Not seen in Labrador. Throughout the interior. Resident in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Abundant.

Golden-crowned Thrush, Turdus aurocapillus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 88.

Sylvia aurocapilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 77.

Seiurus aurocapillus, Golden-crowned accentor, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 227.

Golden-crowned Thrush or Oven Bird, Turdus aurocapillus, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 355.

Golden-crowned Thrush, Turdus aurocapillus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 253; v. v. p. 447.

149. 2. Seiurus Novæboracensis, Gmel. Aquatic Wood-Wagtail.

Plate XIX. Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 7.

Upper parts dull greenish-brown, wings and tail dark chocolate-brown, lower parts pale yellow; a streak of the latter from the bill over the eye; loral space, and a streak behind the eye dusky; cheeks yellowish-grey, streaked with brown; the whole fore part and sides of the neck, the breast, and sides, marked with triangular blackish-brown spots, which are more elongated on the sides; abdomen and lower tail-coverts unspotted; bill dusky; feet flesh-coloured and transparent. Individuals vary, the throat sometimes without spots, the lower parts pale or yellowish-white, the feet dusky tinged with purple.

Male, 6²/₁₂, 9¹/₂. Female, 5⁸/₁₂, 8⁷/₁₂.

In winter resident from Texas to Florida, including Louisiana. In summer migrates as far as the Fur Countries. Not Abundant.

Water Thrush, Turdus aquaticus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 66.

Sylvia novæboracensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 77.

Seiurus aquaticus, Aquatic Accentor, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 229.

New York or Aquatic Thrush, Turdus novæboracensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 353.

Louisiana Water Thrush, Turdus ludovicianus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 99.

Common Water Thrush, Turdus aquaticus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 284.

GENUS II. ANTHUS, Bechst. PIPIT.

Bill of moderate length, straight, very slender, as broad as high at the base, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with the ridge narrow at the base, the notches slight, the tip a little deflected; lower mandible with the dorsal line straight, the edges involute, the tip acute. General form very slender. Tarsus of moderate length, much compressed; toes slender; claws arched, extremely compressed, acute, that of the hind toe much elongated. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long; the outer three quills about equal and longest; inner secondaries tapering, one of them nearly as long as the outer primaries when the wing is closed. Tail rather long, emarginate.

150. 1. Anthus Ludovicianus, Lichtenstein. American Pipit.

Plate X. Male and Female. Plate LXXX. Young.

Hind claw longer than the toe, slightly arched, and very slender. Male, in winter plumage, with the bill dusky, the legs and claws deep greenish-brown; upper parts greyish-olive, tinged with green, and obscurely streaked with dusky; a whitish band over the eye, cheeks brown; lower parts brownish-white, the throat white, the sides and lower part of the neck, fore part of breast, and sides of body marked with elongated, distinct, blackish-brown spots; quills and tail-feathers dusky, margined with greenish-grey, the lateral tail-feathers half white, the next obliquely white at the end. Female similar. Male in summer with the bill black, the upper parts olive-brown, tinged with grey; a greyish-white line over the eye, cheeks greyish-brown; lower parts light yellowish-grey, the fore neck and breast often deeply tinged with red, and marked with short, slender, brownish-black spots, the sides streaked; quills and tail-feathers as in winter with the pale margins less distinct. Young more tinged with green above, the bill paler, with a great part of the lower mandible yellowish-red, the lower parts pale yellowish-grey, with an obscure lunule of brownish-black on the fore neck, the lower part of which and the sides are streaked with dark brown, and tinged with reddish-brown.

Male, 6¹/₂, 10¹/₂.

Throughout the Western and Southern Districts during autumn and winter. Breeds in Labrador and the Fur Countries. Abundant.

Brown Lark, Alauda rufa, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 89.

Anthus Spinoletta, Bonap. Syn. p. 90.

Brown Titlark, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p 49. Adult.

Prairie Titlark, Anthus pipiens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 408, Young. Brown Titlark and Prairie Titlark, v. v. p. 449.

This species is nearly allied to Anthus aquaticus and A. pratensis, more especially to the latter, from which it is distinguished by having the bill much stouter, the tarsus longer, the hind claws stouter, more curved, and much shorter, the colour of the feet much darker, in being always much more rufous beneath, and in sometimes, when the summer is advanced, being almost entirely unspotted there. From A. aquaticus it is at once distinguished by the whitish band over the eye, and the white on the outer tail-feathers. It indeed seems wonderful that any ornithologist should have mistaken it for that species.

FAMILY XIV. ALAUDINÆ. LARKS.

Bill rather short, or of moderate length, somewhat conical, compressed toward the end; upper mandible with its dorsal line sloping and slightly convex, the edges sharp and overlapping, the notches generally obsolete; the tip narrow and a little deflected; lower mandible with the angle of moderate length and narrow, the dorsal line ascending and nearly straight, the edges slightly inflected, the tip acute; gape-line straight. Nostrils elliptical or oblong, basal. Head oblong, of moderate size; neck rather short; body ovate. Feet of moderate length, or rather long; tarsus compressed, with eight anterior scutella; toes slender, compressed; the hind toe elongated, second and fourth about equal, third much longer. Claws rather long, arched, slender, much compressed, laterally grooved, acute, that of the hind toe very long, straightish, tapering. Plumage generally soft and blended. Wings rather long, broad, the inner secondaries tapering, and one so elongated as nearly to equal the longest primary, when the wing is closed. Tail of twelve feathers, generally emarginate. Roof of the upper mandible concave, generally with three prominent lines; tongue slender, thin, flat, tapering to a slit and bristly tip; œsophagus of uniform width; stomach a very strong muscular gizzard of a roundish form and compressed, its lateral muscles very large, its epithelium dense and rugous; intestines short, of moderate width; cœca very small, cylindrical. Nest on the ground. Eggs five or six, oval, spotted.

GENUS I. ALAUDA, Linn. LARK.

Bill rather short, stout, somewhat conical, compressed, straightish, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched, the edges without notch, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending, slightly convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Head rather large; neck short; body ovate. Legs of ordinary length, anteriorly scutellate; lateral toes nearly equal, hind toe of moderate size, with a very long, tapering, acute, and nearly straight claw. Plumage rather dense and compact. Wings of moderate length, the second and third quills longest; inner secondaries much elongated. Tail of moderate length, emarginate.

151. 1. Alauda alpestris, Linn. Shore Lark.—Horned Lark.

Male with two erectile pointed tufts of feathers on the anterior lateral parts of the head. In winter the upper parts dusky brown, the feathers paler on the edges; on the forehead a recurved crescentic band of brownish-black; another curved downwards, proceeding on each side from the base of the upper mandible; a band of yellowish-white over the eye and forehead; throat pale-yellow, with a broad dusky patch on the lower neck, the rest of the lower parts brownish-white; quills dusky, tail-feathers blackish, excepting the two middle, which are reddish-brown, like the upper tail-coverts. In summer, the brownish-black bands on the head and neck become deep black, the throat and frontal band white, and the upper parts light brownish-red. Female dusky brown above, dull white beneath; the wings and tail as in the male, but the black bands on the head and neck wanting. Young from the nest with the upper parts deep brown, mottled with pale reddish-brown, lower parts pale yellowish-grey.

Male, 7¹/₂, 14.

Breeds in Labrador and northwards. Migrates in autumn southward, as far as the Texas. Not uncommon in the Western Country at that season.

Shore Lark, Alauda cornuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 85.

Alauda alpestris, Bonap. Syn. p. 102.

Horned or Shore Lark, Alauda cornuta. Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 245.

Shore Lark, Nutt. Man. v. i. p.

Shore Lark, Alauda alpestris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 570; v. v. p. 488.

FAMILY XV. FRINGILLINÆ. FINCHES.

Bill short, stout, conical, acute; upper mandible generally with its dorsal line more or less convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected or direct, the tip acute; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges involute. Gape-line ascending for more than a fourth of its length, then direct. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the feathers. Head of moderate size, or rather large, ovate or roundish; neck short; body compact; tarsus generally shorter than the middle toe with its claw, compressed, with seven or eight anterior scutella; hind toe stout; outer toe adherent at the base, lateral about equal. Claws long or moderate, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Plumage soft and blended, but firm. Wings various, acute, or rounded. Tail of twelve feathers. Roof of upper mandible concave, with three prominent lines, of which the middle is sometimes elevated into an oblong hard prominence. Tongue much compressed, pointed; œsophagus rather wide, with a dilatation or crop on the right side; stomach roundish or oblong, muscular, with the epithelium thin, dense, and longitudinally rugous; intestine short, rather wide; cœca very small, cylindrical. Trachea simple, with four pairs of inferior laryngeal muscles. The Fringillinæ pass into the Icterinæ on the one hand, and the Alaudinæ on the other. The Buntings scarcely differ from the Finches in any other character than the knob on the palate, which is common to them with the Icterinæ.

GENUS I. PLECTROPHANES, Meyer. LARK-BUNTING.

Bill very short, robust, tapering, somewhat compressed; upper mandible considerably narrower than the lower, its dorsal outline very slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the marginal outline slightly angulate; lower mandible with the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the edges involute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the feathers. Head of moderate size, ovate; neck short; body compact, tarsus shorter than the middle toe with its claw, compressed, with seven anterior scutella; hind toe stout; claws long, rather stout, little arched, acute, that of the hind toe much elongated. Plumage soft and blended. Wings long, pointed; the first quill longest. Tail rather long, emarginate.

152. 1. Plectrophanes Lapponica, Linn. Lapland Lark-Bunting.

Plate CCCLXV. Male and Female.

Male, in summer, with the head and fore part of the neck black; a white band over the eye, passing along the neck, and margining the black; a brownish-red crescent on the hind neck; the feathers on the rest of the upper parts black, broadly margined with yellowish-red; first row of small coverts tipped with white; lower parts white, the sides streaked with black. Male, in winter, with the upper part of the head black, the feathers edged with brownish-red, cheeks and band over the eye greyish-yellow; feathers of the fore neck black, broadly tipped with white; dark streaks on the sides not apparent. Female with the upper parts reddish-grey, spotted with black; a greyish-white band over the eye; the cheeks greyish-brown; lower parts greyish-white, the sides streaked with dusky.

Male, 6⁹/₈; wing, 3¹⁰/₁₂.

Fur Countries in summer. In winter, as far westward as Kentucky. Abundant. Migratory.

Lapland Longspur, Emberiza lapponica, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 53.

Emberiza lapponica, Bonap. Syn. p. 440.

Emberiza (Plectrophanes) lapponica, Lapland Buntling, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 248.

Lapland Longspur, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 463.

Lapland Longspur, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 473.

153. 2. Plectrophanes pictus, Swains. Painted Lark-Bunting.

Plate CCCC. Fig. 5. Male.

Male with the upper part and sides of the head deep black, with three bands of white on each side, one from the base of the upper mandible over the eye and along the neck, another under the eye and over the ear, the third bordering the throat; upper parts brownish-yellow spotted with black; a band of white on the smaller wing-coverts; lower parts, and a band across the fore part of the back, buffy orange.

Male, 6²/₁₂; wing, 3¹/₄.

Fur Countries. Accidental, in winter, on the banks of the Mississippi. Migratory.

Emberiza (Plectrophanes) picta, Painted Bunting, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 250.

Painted Bunting, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 589.

Painted Bunting, Emberiza picta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 91.

154. 3. Plectrophanes ornatus, Towns. Chestnut-collared Lark-Bunting.

Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 1. Male.

Male, in summer, with the upper part of the head, a streak, and some spots behind the ear, and the breast black; a broad band over the eye, the throat and sides of the neck, the abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and three lateral tail-feathers, white; a transverse belt of yellowish-red on the hind neck; upper parts yellowish-grey, spotted with dusky.

Male, 5¹/₄; wing, 3²/₁₂.

Rocky Mountains.

Plectrophanes ornata, Chestnut-collared Lark-Finch, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 189.

Chestnut-collared Lark-Bunting, Emberiza ornata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 44.

155. 4. Plectrophanes nivalis, Linn. Snow Lark-Bunting.

Plate CLXXXIX. Male and Female in winter.

Male, in winter, with the head, neck, lower parts, a great portion of the wings, including the smaller coverts, secondary coverts, several secondary quills, the bases of the primaries and their coverts, and the greater part of the outer tail-feathers on each side, white; the head and hind neck more or less tinged with brownish-red, the upper parts reddish-grey or yellowish-red, mottled with black, the concealed part of the plumage being of the latter colour, the bill brownish-yellow. Female, in winter, with the white less extended. Young, at this season, like the female, but more brown. Male, in summer, with the back, scapulars, inner secondaries, terminal portion of primaries, and four middle tail-feathers, deep black, all the other parts pure white, the bill black. Female with the black parts tinged with brown, and more or less reddish-brown on the head and rump.

Male, 7, 13.

In winter, from Nova Scotia to Kentucky. Abundant. Much rarer along the Atlantic coast. Some breed in Vermont and Massachusetts. Fur Countries in summer.

Snow-Bunting, Emberiza nivalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 86.

Emberiza nivalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 103.

Emberiza (Plectrophanes) nivalis, Snow Buntling, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 247.

Snow Bunting, Emberiza nivalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 458.

Snow Bunting, Emberiza nivalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 515; v. v. p. 496.

GENUS II. EMBERIZA, Linn. BUNTING.

Bill short, robust, tapering, somewhat compressed; upper mandible with its dorsal line declinate and slightly convex, the ridge indistinct, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected, ascending to beneath the nostrils, then descending or direct, with a slight notch close to the narrow tip; lower mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal line ascending, and very slightly convex, the ridge broad at the base, the sides convex, the edges inclinate, their outline ascending for a third or more of its length, then direct, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, roundish. Head large, ovate; neck very short; body rather stout. Feet of moderate length, rather strong; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with seven anterior scutella; toes rather large; the hind toe strong, and longer than the lateral, which are equal, the third much longer, and united to the fourth at the base. Claws long, arched, much compressed, acute. Plumage soft and blended, but firm. Bristles feeble. Wings of moderate length, rather acute; the first three quills longest. Tail of moderate length, emarginate.

* Wings rather long, with the second and third quills longest.

156. 1. Emberiza Americana, Gmel. Black-throated Bunting.

Plate CCCLXXXIV. Male and Female.

Bill very stout; tail-feathers acute. Male with the upper part of the head, the cheeks, and the hind neck dark ash-grey, faintly streaked with dusky; loral space whitish, a band over the eye, and a patch below the cheek, yellow; the fore part of the back greyish-brown, with longitudinal streaks of brownish-black, the hind part brownish-grey; the smaller wing-coverts bright chestnut; chin white, throat black; the lower neck and part of the breast, yellow, the rest of the breast and abdomen, white. Female similar to the male, but paler, and without the black patch on the throat.

Male, 6¹/₂, 10³/₈.

Breeds abundantly in Texas and all the Western Prairies; less so from Virginia to Massachusetts. Rare in Ohio and Kentucky. Migratory.

Black-throated Bunting, Emberiza Americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 411.

Fringilla Americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 107.

Black-throated Bunting, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 461.

Black-throated Bunting, Emberiza Americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 599.

157. 2. Emberiza Townsendii, Aud. Townsend's Bunting.

Plate CCCC. Fig. 4. Male.

Bill very stout, with the upper outline considerably convex. Head, cheeks, hind neck, sides of the neck, fore part of the breast, and sides of the body, deep bluish-grey, the head streaked with black; back yellowish-brown, streaked with dusky, the feathers edged with grey, rump yellowish-grey; quills and tail-feathers wood-brown, slightly edged with paler; a narrow white line over the eye; throat white, with a narrow band of black on each side; abdomen and middle part of breast greyish-white.

Male, 5³/₄, 9.

One specimen (in my possession) procured in Pennsylvania.

Townsend's Bunting, Emberiza Townsendii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 183; v. v. p. 90.

158. 3. Emberiza Grammaca, Say. Lark Bunting.

Plate CCCXC. Fig. 1. Male.

Second and third quills longest, first and fourth about equal; tail rather long, rounded. Male with three longitudinal bands of white on the head, separated by two bands of bright chestnut-red, the anterior part of which is black; upper parts light greyish-brown, longitudinally streaked with dusky, the central part of each feather being of the latter colour, the hind part of the back and the rump without streaks; two faint bands of yellowish-white on the wings, formed by the tips of the first row of small coverts, and those of the secondary coverts, and a patch of the same formed by the bases of the outer primaries; quills dusky brown, primaries margined with whitish, secondaries more broadly with light red; tail darker, all the feathers except the middle, terminated by white, which, on the outer, occupies more than a third of its length, and extends nearly to the base of the outer web; below the eye a white streak, cheeks bright chestnut, with an anterior black spot, under them a broad white band from the lower mandible, curving upwards, separated from the throat, which is white, by a short line of black on each side; lower parts white, the lower part of the neck greyish, the sides tinged with greyish-white. Female similar to the male, but with the head simply coloured like the back, and the sides streaked with brown.

Male, 6¹/₂, 8¹/₄.

Upper Missouri, and eastern declivities of the Rocky Mountains. Common. Migratory.

Fringilla grammaca, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 47.

Lark Finch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 480.

Lark Finch, Fringilla grammaca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 17.

159. 4. Emberiza graminea, Gmel. Grass or Bay-winged Bunting.

Plate XC. Male.

Second, third, and fourth quills longest, first and fourth nearly equal; tail rather long, slightly emarginate. Upper parts light greyish-brown, streaked with dusky; smaller wing coverts yellowish-red or bay; quills and larger coverts dusky brown, margined with greyish-white; two whitish bands on the wing, formed by the tips of the first row of small coverts, and the secondary coverts; tail dusky brown, the greater part of the outer feather, and the terminal portion of the outer web of the next white; a narrow circle of white round the eye; lower parts dull white, the throat, fore part of neck, and sides streaked with dark brown.

Male, 5³/₄, 10.

From Texas to the Columbia River and Fur Countries. Breeds from Maryland eastward and northward. Resident in winter from Carolina southward and westward. Extremely abundant.

Bay-winged Bunting, Emberiza graminea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 51.

Fringilla graminea, Bonap. Syn. p. 108.

Fringilla (Zonotrichia) graminea, Bay-winged Finch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 254.

Bay-winged or Grass Finch, Fringilla graminea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p 482.

Grass Finch or Bay-winged Bunting, Fringilla graminea, Aud. Orn Biog. v. i. p. 473; v. v. p. 502.

160. 5. Emberiza Savanna, Bon. Savannah Bunting.

Plate CIX. Male and Female.

Outer four quills almost equal; tail emarginate, with the feathers pointed. Upper parts light greyish-brown, streaked with dusky; smaller wing-coverts like the back; a faint yellow band over the eye, and a faint whitish band in the middle of the crown; two whitish bands on the wing, formed by the tips of the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts, the latter very inconspicuous, quills and tail-feathers dusky brown, edged with paler, the lateral tail-feathers merely of a lighter tint; cheeks dull yellow, streaked with brown; lower part white, the throat and sides streaked with dusky.

Male, 5¹/₂, 8¹/₂.

From Texas to the Columbia River, and along the whole Atlantic coast to Nova Scotia. Extremely abundant during winter in all the Southern States. Breeds from Maryland eastward.

Savannah Finch, Fringilla savanna, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 72.

Fringilla savanna, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Savannah Sparrow, Fringilla savanna, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 489.

Savannah Finch, Fringilla savanna, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 63; v. v. p. 516.

161. 6. Emberiza pallida, Swains. Clay-coloured Bunting.

Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 2. Male.

Bill more slender and pointed than in the preceding species; wings more rounded, the second, third, and fourth quills being about equal, the first and fifth equal; tail long, emarginate, and a little rounded, upper parts light yellowish-brown, streaked with brownish-black, the streaks on the rump fainter; quills and tail-feathers greyish-brown, margined with brownish-white; over the eye a band of brownish-white; cheeks pale brown; sides of neck very light buff; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, the sides tinged with greyish-brown. Female similar to the male, but with less yellow on the sides of the neck.

Male, 5²/₁₂, wing 2⁷/₁₂.

Platte River, Missouri Plains, and Fur Countries. Common. Migratory.

Emberiza pallida, Clay-coloured Bunting, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 251.

Clay-coloured Bunting, Emberiza pallida, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 66.

162. 7. Emberiza passerina, Wils. Yellow-winged Bunting.

Plate CXXX. Male.

Bill very short and stout; tail-feathers acute. Upper parts light greyish-brown, mixed on the neck with ash-grey, the central parts of all the feathers brownish-black, the margins of those of the back bright chestnut; upper part of the head brownish-black, with a longitudinal central line of yellowish-white, and a yellow line over each eye; secondary coverts dusky, margined with greyish-white; the edge of the wing at the flexure bright yellow; quills and tail-feathers dusky brown, margined with whitish; lower parts pale yellowish-grey, the fore neck and lower tail-coverts of a richer tint; the sides inclining to grey, and faintly streaked with dusky.

Male, 4⁹/₁₂, 8.

Passes from Texas to Connecticut; breeds from Maryland to Connecticut. Columbia River. Rather Common. Migratory.

Yellow-winged Sparrow, Fringilla passerina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 76.

Fringilla passerina, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Savannah Finch or Yellow shouldered Bunting, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 494.

Yellow-crowned Sparrow, Fringilla passerina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 180; v. v. p. 497.

163. 8. Emberiza Henslowii, Aud. Henslow's Bunting.

Plate LXX. Male.

Bill very stout; wings short, convex, the first quill equal to the fourth, and scarcely shorter than the second and third; tail emarginate and rounded, with the feathers acute. Upper parts light yellowish-brown, streaked with brownish-black, the margins of the feathers on the back and scapulars light red; the edge of the wing pale yellow; quills dusky, primaries edged with brownish-yellow, secondaries with light red; tail-feathers dusky, the outer margined with yellowish-brown, the middle more broadly with light red; lower parts light brownish-yellow, the abdomen and throat paler, the sides of the neck and body, and the fore part of the breast streaked with black.

Male, 5.

Winters in Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida. Breeds from Maryland to New York. Abundant. Accidental in Ohio.

Henslow's Bunting, Emberiza Henslowii, Nutt. Man. App. v. ii. p.

Henslow's Bunting, Emberiza Henslowii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 360; v. v. p. 498.

* Wings considerably rounded, with the third and fourth quills longest. Tail rather long, emarginate.

164. 9. Emberiza pusilla, Wils. Field Bunting.—Field Sparrow.

Plate CXXXIX. Male.

Bill light brownish-red; upper part of the head chestnut-red; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, and the throat pale bluish-grey; rump yellowish-grey; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with yellowish-grey, lower parts greyish-white, the sides of the neck and body, and the fore part of the breast, tinged with yellowish-brown.

Male, 6, 8.

From Texas to Maryland, in Kentucky and the intermediate parts, during winter. Breeds from Maryland to Maine. Abundant.

Field Sparrow, Fringilla pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 121.

Fringilla pusilla; Bonap. Syn. p. 110.

Field or Rush Sparrow, Fringilla juncorum, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 499.

Field Sparrow, Fringilla pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 229.

165. 10. Emberiza socialis, Wils. Chipping Bunting.—Chipping Sparrow.

Plate CIV. Male.

Bill with the upper mandible blackish-brown; upper part of the head bright chestnut-red, part of forehead black; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, the throat, and fore part of the breast, pale bluish-grey; rump bluish-grey, streaked with dusky; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with yellowish-grey; two white bands on the wing; breast and sides pale grey, inclining to white. This species closely resembles the last in colour, but may be distinguished by the black on the forehead, and the dusky colour of the bill.

Male, 5¹/₄, 8.

Abundant throughout the United States. Winter resident in all the Southern States. Not seen in Texas, Nova Scotia, or Labrador.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 127.

Fringilla socialis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 497.

Chipping Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 21; v. v. p. 517.

166. 11. Emberiza Canadensis, Lath. Canada Bunting.—Tree Sparrow.

Plate CLXXXVIII. Male and Female.

Bill with the upper mandible blackish-brown above, yellowish-red beneath; upper part of the head bright chestnut-red; anterior part of the back streaked with dusky, bright chestnut, and yellowish-grey; a faint ring on the neck, a band over the eyes, the throat and fore part of the breast pale bluish-grey; rump pale yellowish-grey, faintly streaked with dusky; quills and tail dusky brown, the former margined with light red, the latter with greyish-white; two white bands on the wing; breast and sides pale grey, inclining to white, the latter tinged with yellowish-brown.

This species is much larger than the last, wants the black spot on the forehead, and has the wing-bands more conspicuous.

Male, 6¹/₄, 8³/₄.

Rarely reaches the Carolinas during winter, or Louisville on the Ohio. Breeds from Maine northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla arborea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 12.

Fringilla canadensis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Emberiza canadensis, Tree Bunting, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 252.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla canadensis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 495.

Tree Sparrow, Fringilla canadensis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 511; v. v. p. 504.

GENUS III. NIPHÆA, Aud. SNOW-BIRD.

Bill short, rather small, conical, acute; upper mandible a little broader than the lower, its dorsal line straight, slightly declinate at the tip, the sides convex, the edges nearly straight, slightly inflected, but overlapping; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head broadly ovate; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus rather short, stout, with seven scutella; toes rather strong, the first stout, the lateral equal. Claws rather long, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings rather short, curved, rounded, second, third, and fourth quills longest, first longer than fifth. Tail rather long, slightly emarginate. Roof of upper mandible concave, with thin ridges, and a small knob at the base; tongue narrow, deep, grooved above, tapering to a horny point; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach rather small, roundish, muscular; intestine rather short; cœca very small. Name from [Greek: Niphos], snow.

167. 1. Niphæa hyemalis, Linn. Common Snow-Bird.

Plate XIII. Male and Female.

Male with the head, hind neck, fore part of the breast, back, wings, and upper parts of the sides, greyish-black, deeper on the head and throat; quills margined with whitish; tail with the two lateral feathers on each side, and a patch on the inner web of the next white, as are the breast and abdomen. Female lighter grey, on the back tinged with brown.

Male, 6¹/₄, 9.

Distributed, in winter, over the Southern, Western, and Middle Districts, as far as the base of the Rocky Mountains, and in the Fur Countries. Breeds from Maryland eastward, on the mountains. Very abundant.

Snow Bird, Fringilla nivalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 129.

Fringilla hyemalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 109.

Fringilla hyemalis, Black Finch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 505.

Common Snow-Bird, Fringilla Hudsonia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 491.

Snow-Bird, Fringilla hyemalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 72; v. v. p. 505.

168. 2. Niphæa Oregona, Towns. Oregon Snow-Bird.

Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 3. Male. Fig. 4. Female.

Male with the head, neck all round, and a portion of the breast black; the rest of the lower parts white, excepting the sides, which are tinged with brown; fore part of back reddish-brown, rump dull grey; quills dusky, the primaries edged with grey, the secondaries with reddish-brown; tail dusky, with the outer two feathers on each side white. Female with the head and neck blackish-grey, the back and wing-coverts dull brownish-red, the other parts as in the male.

Male, 6¹/₄; wing, 3¹/₁₂.

Columbia River. Common. Migratory.

Fringilla oregona, Oregon Snow-Finch, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 188.

Oregon Snow-Finch, Fringilla oregona, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 68.

GENUS IV. SPIZA, Bonap. PAINTED-BUNTING.

Bill short, moderately stout, conical, acute; upper mandible rather narrower, with the dorsal line somewhat convex, the ridge narrow, the sides sloping and a little convex, the edges inclining upwards for a third of their length, then direct, with a slight notch close to the narrow declinate tip; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line very slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partly concealed by the feathers. Head broadly ovate; neck short; body rather full. Feet of moderate length; tarsus much compressed, with seven scutella; toes of moderate size, hind toe large, lateral equal. Claws slender, compressed, well arched, acute. Plumage full, soft, and blended. Wings of moderate length, the second and third quills longest, the first about equal to the fourth. Tail of moderate length, emarginate. Palate anteriorly with their narrow ridges, forming a large oblong hard knob at their base; tongue higher than broad, deeply grooved above, pointed; œsophagus dilated into a crop; stomach elliptical, muscular; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small.

169. 1. Spiza Ciris, Wils. Blue-headed Painted-Bunting.—Painted-Bunting. Painted-Finch.

Plate LIII. Male and Female.

Male with the head and hind neck ultramarine-blue, eyelids vermilion; fore part of back and scapulars yellowish-green; rump purplish-red; smaller wing-coverts purplish-blue, secondary coverts green; quills and tail-feathers dusky; lower parts bright vermilion. Female yellowish-green above, greenish-yellow beneath. Young like the female. In the second year, the male with the upper parts olive-green, the lower dull orange, paler behind, head as in the adult; in the third year, with the back mottled with yellow and light green, the secondary coverts green, the rest as in the adult.

Male, 5¹/₄, 7¹/₂.

From Texas to North Carolina, and up the Mississippi to Natchez. Abundant. Migratory.

Painted Bunting, Emberiza Ciris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 68.

Fringilla Ciris, Bonap. Syn. p. 107.

Painted Bunting, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 477.

Painted Finch, Fringilla Ciris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 279; v. v. p. 517.

170. 2. Spiza cyanea, Wils. Indigo Painted-Bunting.—Indigo Bird.

Plate LXXIV. Male and Female.

Male blue, tinged with verdigris-green, on the head approaching to ultramarine; quills and tail-feathers dusky, edged with greenish-blue. Female yellowish-brown above, paler beneath. Young like the female. Male, in the first autumn, of a lighter and duller blue than in the adult, the feathers of the upper parts tipped with brown, of the lower with yellowish, in the second year nearly as in the adult, but with the smaller coverts dull brown.

Male, 5¹/₄, 7¹/₂.

Distributed throughout the United States during summer. Abundant. Migratory.

Indigo Bird, Fringilla cyanea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 100.

Fringilla cyanea, Bonap. Syn. p. 107.

Indigo Bird, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 473.

Indigo Bird, Fringilla cyanea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 377; v. v. p. 503.

171. 3. Spiza amœna, Say. Lazuli Painted-Bunting.—Lazuli Finch.

Plate CCCXCVIII. Fig. 1. Male. Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 1. Female.

Male with the head, neck, and upper parts, light greenish-blue, the fore part of the back duller; loral space black; wings and tail dusky, the feathers margined with blue; two white bands on the wing; on the fore part of the breast a broad band of yellowish-red, the rest of the lower parts white. Female with the upper parts light yellowish-brown, the rump greenish-blue; fore parts pale yellowish-red, fading behind into white.

Male, 5¹/₂; wing, 3¹/₁₂.

From the Arkansas to the Columbia River. Never seen near the Atlantic coast. Plentiful. Migratory.

Emberiza amœna, Say, Long's Exped.

Lazuli Finch, Fringilla amœna, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 61.

Fringilla amœna, Bonap. Syn. p. 106.

Lazuli Finch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 478.

Lazuli Finch, Fringilla amœna, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 64, and p. 230.

GENUS V. AMMODRAMUS, Swains. SHORE-FINCH.

Bill rather long, being little shorter than the head, rather slender, straight, considerably compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line considerably convex, the ridge narrow, the sides convex, the edges inflected, with a slight festoon about the middle, and a faint notch, close to the tip, which is deflected and acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending and straight, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils small, elliptical, basal, partially concealed by the plumage. Head ovate; neck short; body slender. Tarsus rather short, stoutish, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather long, hind toe large, outer shorter than inner, and adherent at the base. Claws long, slender, little arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a fine point. Plumage soft and blended, with the filaments stiffish and disunited. No bristles. Wings short, convex, rounded, the second, third, and fourth quills longest, the first considerably shorter. Tail of moderate length, graduated, slender, of twelve narrow, acuminate feathers. No difference in the colours of the sexes.

172. 1. Ammodramus maritimus, Wils. Grey Shore-Finch.—Sea-side Finch.

Plate XCIII. Male and Female.

Third and fourth quills longest, first and eighth equal; tail graduated; upper parts brownish-grey, tinged with olivaceous, two faint longitudinal bands of darker on the head; the feathers on the fore part of the back brown in the centre; margin of the wing at the flexure light yellow, smaller wing-coverts and outer webs of secondary coverts dull reddish-brown; quills and tail-feathers dusky brown, edged with pale brownish-grey; a yellow band from the base of the upper mandible over the eye, fainter behind; throat greyish-white, with a longitudinal bluish-grey band on each side; lower part of neck, fore part of breast, and sides, light bluish-grey, streaked with light olivaceous-brown; middle of breast pale grey, abdomen white, lower tail-coverts pale yellowish-brown, with a central dusky streak.

Male, 8, 11.

From Texas to Massachusetts along the shores of the Atlantic. Resident in the Southern States. Abundant.

Sea-side Finch, Fringilla maritima, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 68.

Fringilla maritima, Bonap. Syn. p. 110.

Sea-side Finch, Fringilla maritima, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 505.

Sea-side Finch, Fringilla maritima, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 471.

173. 2. Ammodramus Macgillivrayi, Aud. Macgillvray's Shore-Finch.

Plate CCCLV. Male and Female.

Second, third, and fourth quills longest, first and seventh equal; tail rounded. Upper parts dull olivaceous-grey, streaked with blackish-brown, the central parts of all the feathers being of the latter colour; margin of the wing at the flexure yellowish-white; all the feathers of the wings dusky brown, margined with pale olivaceous; tail-feathers blackish-brown, margined with olivaceous; a yellowish-brown streak from the base of the upper mandible over the eye; throat and fore neck greyish-white, with an indistinct dusky streak on each side; breast and sides pale dull yellowish-grey marked with brownish-black streaks; middle of the breast and abdomen greyish-white, tinged with yellowish-brown; lower tail-coverts pale yellowish-brown, with a central dusky streak.

Male, 5¹/₂, 7³/₄.

Abundant in Texas and along the Gulf of Mexico. Rather rare in South Carolina, from which it migrates in autumn.

Macgillivray's Finch, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 285; v. iv. p. 394; v. v. p. 499.

174. 3. Ammodramus caudacutus, Lath. Buff-breasted Shore-Finch.—Sharp-tailed Finch.

Plate CXLIX. Male and Female.

Second, third, and fourth quills longest, first and fifth equal; tail graduated. Upper part of the head with a central bluish-grey streak, deep brown at the sides with the feathers black in the centre; hind neck dull grey, tinged with brown; back brown, tinged with grey, some of the feathers marked with black and edged with greyish-white; quills dusky brown, edged with reddish-brown, the secondary and smaller coverts with their outer webs chiefly of the latter colour; tail-feathers dusky brown, margined with greyish-olive; a broad band of light yellowish-red from the base of the upper mandible over the eye, and extending beyond the middle of the neck, where it is broader; ear-coverts grey; a broad band of yellowish-red from the lower mandible down the neck; throat whitish, with a line of dusky streaks on each side; the lower part of the neck, a portion of the breast, the lower tail-coverts, and the sides, pale yellowish-red, streaked with dusky; the rest of the lower parts white.

Male, 5, 7¹/₄.

Breeds from Texas along the coast to Massachusetts. Never in the interior. Resident in the Southern States. Very abundant.

Sharp-tailed Finch, Fringilla caudacuta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 70.

Fringilla caudacuta, Bonap. Syn. p. 110.

Shore Finch, Fringilla littoralis, Nutt. Man, v. i. p. 504.

Sharp-tailed Finch, Fringilla caudacuta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 281; v. v. p. 499.

175. 4. Ammodramus palustris, Wils. Marsh Shore-Finch. Swamp Sparrow.

Plate LXIV. Male.

Bill shorter than in the other species; tail-feathers less acuminate; upper part of head deep chestnut-red, streaked with black; hind part and sides of the neck light bluish-grey, cheeks dusky brown; a greyish-yellow streak over the eye; upper parts of body yellowish-brown, streaked with brownish-black; wing-coverts and secondaries broadly edged with yellowish-red, primaries with duller red; tail similar; throat greyish-white, with two small dusky streaks, the rest of the fore neck and part of the breast pale bluish-grey, the abdomen whitish, the sides yellowish-brown, streaked with dusky.

Male, 5¹/₂, 7¹/₂.

From Texas to North Carolina in winter. Spreads in spring and summer to the Missouri westward, and to Labrador eastward. Abundant.

Swamp Swallow, Fringilla palustris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 49.

Fringilla palustris, Bonap. Syn. p. 110.

Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla Georgiana, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 502.

Swamp Sparrow, Fringilla palustris, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 331; v. v. p. 508.

GENUS VI. PEUCÆA, Aud. PINEWOOD-FINCH.

Bill of moderate length, rather stout, straight, considerably compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line somewhat convex, the ridge rather narrow, the sides convex, the edges inflected, with the notches obsolete, the tip acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the ridge rounded, the sides convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils small, roundish, partially concealed by the plumage. Head ovate; neck short; body moderately stout. Tarsus rather short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, very slender, hind toe rather large, lateral toes about equal, outer adherent at the base. Claws of moderate length, very slender, extremely compressed, arched, tapering to a fine point. Plumage very soft, blended. Wings very short, convex, rounded, the third and fourth quills longest, the first and seventh about equal. Tail rather long, graduated, of twelve narrow rounded feathers. No difference in the colours of the sexes. Name from [Greek: Peuchê], a pine.

176. 1. Peucæa Bachmanii, Aud. Bachman's Pinewood-Finch.

Plate CLXV. Male.

Feathers of the upper parts brownish-red margined with bluish-grey, those on the fore part of the back darker; quills dusky brown, primaries margined with yellowish-grey, secondaries with brownish-red; tail-feathers dusky brown margined with grey; a band of ochre-yellow from the base of the upper mandible over the eye; throat pale yellowish-grey, with a short dusky streak on each side; lower parts light yellowish-grey, the fore part of the breast and the sides tinged with brown.

Male, 6, 7¹/₂.

Georgia and South Carolina. Rather rare. Migratory.

Bachman's Finch, Fringilla Bachmanii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 366.

177. 2. Peucæa Lincolnii, Aud. Lincoln's Pinewood-Finch.

Plate CXCIII. Male and Female.

Bill shorter and more slender. Upper parts yellowish, streaked with brownish-black: on the head a thin greyish-blue longitudinal band; quills dusky brown, margined with yellowish-brown; tail-feathers broadly margined with yellowish-brown; cheeks greyish-brown, with an inferior band of ochreous; throat white, streaked with dusky, and having a line of dusky spots on each side; fore part of breast and sides pale greyish-yellow, streaked with dusky; the rest of the lower parts greyish-white.

Male, 5³/₄, 8²/₁₂.

New York and Labrador. Rather rare. Migratory.

Lincoln's Finch, Fringilla Lincolnii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 539.

GENUS VII. LINARIA, Ray. LINNET.

Bill short, conical, moderately stout, higher than broad at the base, compressed toward the end, acuminate; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the nasal sinus very short and broad, the ridge distinct and narrow, the sides convex, the edges ascending at first, afterwards direct, the tip very narrow, without notches; lower mandible with the angle short and semicircular, the dorsal line straight or very slightly concave, the sides convex, the tip acuminate. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head of moderate size, roundish; neck short; body moderate. Feet of moderate length; tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather stout, the first large. Claws long, moderately arched, much compressed, very acute. Plumage soft and blended. Wings rather long, the first three quills nearly equal, the second generally longest, the first longer than the third. Tail rather long, deeply emarginate or forked, with the feathers pointed. Roof of upper mandible concave, with two ridges; tongue deeper than broad, concave above toward the point, which is acute; œsophagus enlarged about the middle; stomach roundish, muscular; intestine of moderate length, slender; cœca very small.

178. 1. Linaria borealis, Temm. Mealy Redpoll Linnet.

Plate CCCC. Fig. 2. Male.

Male with the upper part of the head crimson, the cheeks, sides of the body, and hind part of the rump pale carmine; a band edging the forehead, the loral space, and the throat black; upper parts dusky, streaked with brownish-white, the fore part of the rump nearly white; feathers of the wings and tail dusky, margined with greyish-white, of which there are two transverse bands on the wings, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; lower parts greyish-white, the sides streaked with dusky. Female somewhat less, with the black on the forehead and throat tinged with brown, the crimson patch on the head of less extent, the sides and rump destitute of red.

Male, 5¹/₄, 9.

Accidental in New Jersey and New York. More common from Maine northward. Labrador and Fur Countries. Columbia River.

Grosbec boreal, Fringilla borealis, Temm. Man. d'Orn. v. iii. p. 264.

Mealy Redpoll, Fringilla borealis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 87.

179. 2. Linaria minor, Ray. Lesser Redpoll Linnet.

Plate CCCLXXV. Male and Female.

Male with the upper part of the head crimson; the sides of the neck, its fore part, the breast, and flanks, rich carmine; a band edging the forehead, the loral space, and the throat, brownish-black; the hind part of the head, the neck, the fore part of the back, and the scapulars deep-brown, streaked with pale yellowish-brown; the feathers on the rump margined with whitish, and tipped with carmine; feathers of the wings and tail brown, edged with yellowish-brown, of which there are two bands on the wings formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts white, tinged with rose-colours; the sides longitudinally streaked with dusky. Female somewhat less, with the back of the forehead and throat more brown, less red on the head, and little or none on the rump or lower parts, which are white, the breast and flanks streaked with dusky. Young with the feathers of the upper parts blackish-brown, edged with yellowish-brown, the rump yellowish-grey, the lower parts dull white, streaked with blackish-brown; no red on any part.

Male, 5, 8³/₄.

From Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Maine, in winter; inland, to Kentucky. Breeds in Maine, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, and the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Lesser Redpoll, Fringilla linaria, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 42.

Fringilla linaria, Bonap. Syn. p. 112.

Linaria minor, Lesser Redpoll, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. i. p. 267.

Lesser Redpoll, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 512.

Lesser Redpoll, Fringilla Linaria, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 533.

180. 3. Linaria pinus, Wils. Pine Linnet.

Plate CLXXX. Male and Female.

Upper parts yellowish-grey, streaked with dark brown; feathers of the wings dusky, the primaries margined with yellow, of which there is a patch formed by the bases of all the quills, except the outer three, and a few of the inner; tips of first row of small coverts, secondary coverts and outer edges of secondary quills dull white; tail-feathers dusky, their bases and outer edges yellow; lower parts greyish-white, streaked with brown, the fore neck tinged with reddish.

Male, 4⁹/₁₂, 8¹/₂.

Wanders during winter to South Carolina, Louisiana, and Kentucky. Breeds north of the United States, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Labrador. Columbia River. Plentiful.

Pine Finch, Fringilla pinus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 133.

Fringilla pinus, Bonap. Syn. p. 111.

Pine Finch, Fringilla pinus, Nutt. Man. v.i. p. 511.

Pine Finch, Fringilla pinus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 455; v. v. p. 509.

GENUS VIII. CARDUELIS, Cuv. GOLDFINCH.

Bill short, or of moderate length, conical, very stout at the base, compressed toward the end, and tapering to a fine point; upper mandible a little broader, with the nasal sinus very broad, the dorsal outline very slightly convex, the ridge narrowed toward the end, the sides convex, the edges a little inflected and overlapping, the edges slightly ascending at the base, the notches obsolete, the tip very acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the tip very acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head roundish-ovate; neck short; body rather full. Legs rather short; tarsus short, compressed, slender, with seven scutella; toes moderate, the first large, the lateral nearly equal. Claws long, compressed, moderately curved, very acute. Plumage very soft and blended. Wings rather long, pointed, the first, second, and third quills about equal and longest. Tail rather short, deeply emarginate. Roof of upper mandible deeply concave; tongue grooved above, pointed; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach small, broadly elliptical, moderately muscular; intestine short; cœca very small.

181. 1. Carduelis tristis, Linn. American Goldfinch.

Plate XXXIII. Male and Female.

Bill rather slender, second and third quills longest. Male rich lemon-yellow, fading behind into yellowish-white; upper part of head, wings, and tail black; smaller coverts yellow, quills margined, and secondary coverts tipped with yellowish-white; inner webs of tail-feathers in their terminal half white. Female brownish-olive above, without black on the head; fore neck and breast greyish-yellow, the rest of the lower parts greyish-white. Young like the female, as is the male in winter.

Male, 4¹/₂, 8.

Abundant in the Middle and Western Districts, during summer. Accidental in the Southern States during winter. Columbia River and Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

American Goldfinch, Fringilla tristis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 20.

Fringilla tristis, Bonap. Syn. p. 111.

Carduelis Americana (Edwards), American Goldfinch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 268.

Yellow Bird or American Goldfinch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 507.

American Goldfinch, Fringilla tristis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 172; v. v. p. 510.

182. 2. Carduelis magellanicus, Vieill. Black-headed Goldfinch.

Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 2. Male.

Bill moderately stout; first and second quills equal and longest. Male with the head and throat black, back yellowish-green, rump and lower parts greenish-yellow; wings black, with two bands of yellowish-green, terminating the first row of small coverts, and the secondary coverts; a conspicuous band of yellow on the basal portion of all the quills, most of which are margined with the same toward the end; tail yellow, with the terminal half black.

Male, 4³/₄, wing 2¹⁰/₁₂.

Five seen in winter at Henderson in Kentucky, of which I procured two.

Black-headed Siskin, Fringilla magellanica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 46.

183. 3. Carduelis psaltria, Say. Arkansaw Goldfinch.

Plate CCCC. Fig. 1. Male.

Bill moderately stout; second quill longest, third scarcely shorter. Male with the upper part of the head black; hind neck, back, and scapulars yellowish-green, spotted with greenish-brown; rump greenish-yellow; upper tail-coverts dusky, margined with yellow, as on the smaller wing-coverts; the other coverts and quills black; secondary coverts broadly tipped with pale yellow, forming a conspicuous band; quills margined with yellowish-white, all except the outer three and the inner secondaries, white toward the base; tail-feathers brownish-black, narrowly edged with whitish, and all, except the middle and lateral with a whitish space at the base, running out along the outer margin so as to form a conspicuous patch. Female similar, but without the black on the head.

Male, 4¹/₂, 8.

Eastern bases of Rocky Mountains, and Western Plains. Accidental in Lower Louisiana. Common. Migratory.

Arkansaw Siskin, Fringilla psaltria, Say, Long's Exped. v. ii. p. 40.

Fringilla psaltria, Bonap. Syn. p. 111.

Arkansas Siskin, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 510.

Arkansaw Siskin, Fringilla psaltria, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 85.

184. 4. Carduelis Yarrellii, Aud. Yarrell's Goldfinch.

Plate CCCCXXXIII. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.

Bill very thick; second quill longest, third slightly longer than first. Male with the upper part of the head black, the back and scapulars yellowish-green, the hind neck and rump yellow; the wings and tail brownish-black; the former, when extended, crossed by two bands, one greenish-yellow, tipping the first row of small coverts, the other bright yellow and broad, on the base of the primary and secondary quills; tail also yellow in its basal half; lower parts bright yellow. Female with the upper parts yellowish-green, the lower dull greenish-yellow. This species, which has the bill thicker than any other here described, although it is otherwise inferior in size, not having been found by me any where noticed, I propose to honour with the name of my excellent friend Mr Yarrell. In my ornithological biography it is described as the Mexican Goldfinch, but that species has the back black, and the bases of the quills and tail-feathers white.

Male, 4, wing, 2¹/₂.

Upper California.

Mexican Goldfinch, Fringilla Mexicana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 282.

185. 5. Carduelis Stanleyi, Aud. Stanley Goldfinch.

Not figured.

Bill thick; second and third quills equal, first little shorter. Male with the upper part of the head black, the back and scapulars yellowish-green, faintly streaked with dusky, the rump inclining to greenish-yellow; the wings and tail black; the former, when extended, crossed by two bands, one greenish-yellow, tipping the first row of small coverts, the other bright yellow and broad at the base of the primary and secondary quills; tail also yellow in its basal third, except on the middle feather; lower parts greenish-yellow, feeding into white on the abdomen; feathers on the throat black at the base; lower tail-coverts yellow, tipped with white, and having a central dusky streak. Female dull yellowish-green above, faintly streaked with dusky, paler beneath.

In this species, which I have named in honour of the illustrious Earl of Derby, the bill is so thick and short as to approach in form to that of the European Greenfinch.

Male, 4⁹/₁₂, wing, 2¹⁰/₁₂.

Upper California.

GENUS IX. FRINGILLA, Linn. FINCH.

Bill short, stout, conical, somewhat compressed, pointed; upper mandible of the same breadth as the lower, with its dorsal line straight, the ridge indistinct, the sides rounded, the edges ascending at the base, the notches obsolete, the tip scarcely deflected; lower mandible with the angle very short and rounded, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, the edges inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, concealed by the feathers. Head rather large, ovate; neck short; body compact. Legs of moderate length; tarsus rather short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate; hind toe stout, lateral equal. Claws rather long, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage rather compact, but blended. Wings of moderate length, with the second, third, and fourth quills longest. Tail of moderate length, slightly emarginate. Roof of upper mandible moderately concave, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue compressed, channelled above, horny, rather obtuse and concave at the end; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach roundish, muscular; intestine rather short; cœca small.

* Wings rather short, claws long, little arched.

186. 1. Fringilla iliaca, Merrem. Fox-coloured Finch.

Plate CVIII. Male and Female.

Upper parts light red, claws long, hind toe and its claws of equal length, tail lighter, the head and neck intermixed with light bluish-grey; inner webs of quills brown, secondary coverts slightly tipped with whitish; lower parts white, and, except the abdomen, spotted with light red, the spots on the breast smaller and inclining to black; a patch of dusky on its fore part, produced by the inner webs of several of the feathers.

Male, 7¹/₂, 10¹/₂. Female, 7¹/₂.

Dispersed in winter throughout the Southern and Western Districts. Breeds from Nova Scotia to Labrador and the Fur Countries. Rather common.

Fox-coloured Sparrow, Fringilla rufa, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 53.

Fringilla iliaca, Bonap. Syn. p. 112.

Fringilla (Zonotrichia) iliaca, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 257.

Ferruginous Finch, Fringilla iliaca, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 514.

Fox-coloured Sparrow, Fringilla iliaca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 58; v. v. p. 512.

187. 2. Fringilla Townsendi, Aud. Townsend's Finch.

Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 7. Female.

Claws very long, hind toe much shorter than its claw; upper parts very dark olivaceous-brown, with a slight tinge of red, which is more conspicuous on the rump and outer webs of the tail-feathers, and margins of the wings and quills; sides of the neck and body and feathers of legs similar, the rest white with dark brown triangular spots, lower tail-coverts brown, broadly margined with pale dull yellow.

Female, 7, 10¹/₂.

Colorado of the West. Rocky Mountains.

Townsend's Finch, Fringilla Townsendi, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 236.

188. 3. Fringilla cinerea, Gmel. Brown Finch.

Plate CCCXC. Fig. 4. Male.

Hind claw and toe of equal length; upper parts brownish-grey tinged with olivaceous, streaked with dark reddish-brown; three longitudinal bands of bluish-grey on the head; secondaries and their coverts broadly margined with dull chestnut; tail-feathers with a fainter tint of the same; on the cheek a whitish line, and beneath it a dusky brown band; throat and fore part of the neck white, with longitudinal dark reddish-brown streaks; the middle of the breast yellowish-white, the sides dark yellowish-brown, streaked with dark reddish-brown; lower tail-coverts brown, broadly margined with pale yellowish-grey.

Male, 6, 8.

Platte River, North California, and Columbia River. Common. Migratory.

Fringilla cinerea, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 922.

Cinereous Finch, Arct. Zool. v. ii. N. 260.

Brown Song Sparrow, Fringilla cinerea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 22.

189. 4. Fringilla melodia, Wils. Song Finch.

Plate XXV. Male and Female.

Hind toe and claw of equal length; upper parts yellowish-grey, streaked with brownish-black and brownish-red; on the head three greyish-blue longitudinal bands; quills dusky brown, margined with brownish-red, tail-feathers dull light brown, edged with lighter; sides of the head yellowish-grey, with two bands of dusky brown; throat white, with a broad band of dusky brown on each side; lower parts white, the fore neck and sides tinged with reddish, and streaked with dusky brown. Bill stouter than in the preceding species.

Male, 6, 8¹/₂.

Breeds from Texas to Nova Scotia. Not observed in Kentucky. Winter resident in the Southern States. Very abundant.

Fringilla melodia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 125.

Fringilla melodia, Bonap. Syn. p. 108.

Common Song Sparrow, Fringilla melodia, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 486.

Song Sparrow, Fringilla melodia, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 126; v. v. p. 507.

190. 5. Fringilla Mortoni, Aud. Morton's Finch.

Not figured.

Wings of moderate length, the first quill two-twelfths of an inch shorter than the second, which is almost equal to the third; tail of moderate length, nearly even; bill dusky; feet and claws yellowish-brown; upper part of head ash-grey, with a longitudinal band of black on each side, externally of which is a greyish-white band; loral space, cheek-feathers, and auriculars dusky, the feathers under the eye tipped with white; throat white, surrounded with a black band; a light chestnut-red band surrounding the neck unless for a short space in front; fore-part of back and scapulars light dull yellowish-red, streaked with brownish-black, the hind part, rump, and upper tail-coverts yellowish-grey; the smaller wing-coverts yellowish-grey, the first row brownish-black toward the end with the tip white, the secondary coverts and inner secondary quills brownish-black, broadly margined with light yellowish-red, the former tipped with white, the rest of the quills dusky brown, edged with yellowish-red fading on the outer whitish; tail-feathers blackish-brown, narrowly edged with pale yellowish-grey, the lateral of a lighter tint; lower parts dull brownish-white, sides light greyish-brown, lower wing-coverts yellowish-white.

Male, 5¹/₂, wing, 2¹¹/₁₂.

North California.

Morton's Finch, Fringilla Mortoni, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 312.

* Claws shorter and more curved.

191. 6. Fringilla Pennsylvanica, Lath. White-throated Finch.

Plate VIII. Male and Female.

Male with the bill dusky; the upper part of the head black, with a central white band; a bright yellow band from the nostril to the eye continued into a white band passing over and behind it, and margined beneath with black; fore part of back bright bay, streaked with dusky and reddish-yellow; rump yellowish-grey; edge of wing light yellow; quills brownish-black, primaries edged with yellowish-grey, secondaries and their coverts with light red; two narrow bands of white on the wings, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; tail-feathers brown, edged with rufous; throat white; cheeks, sides, and fore part of neck, and a portion of breast, ash-grey, the rest of the lower parts greyish-white, the sides tinged with yellowish-grey. Female similar, but with the colours duller.

Male, 6¹/₂, 9. Female, 6¹/₄, 8¹/₂.

Winter resident from Louisiana to Maryland, and inland as far as Kentucky. Breeds from Maine to the Fur Countries. Abundant.

White-throated Sparrow, Fringilla albicollis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 51.

Fringilla Pennsylvanica, Bonap. Syn. p. 108.

Fringilla (Zonotrichia) Pennsylvanica, White-throated Finch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 256.

White-throated Sparrow, Fringilla Pennsylvanica, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 481.

White-throated Sparrow, Fringilla Pennsylvanica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 42; v. v. p. 497.

192. 7. Fringilla leucophrys, Gmel. White-crowned Finch.—White-crowned Sparrow.

Plate CXIV. Adult Male and Female in second plumage.

Male with the bill yellowish-red, tipped with brown; upper part of the head with four longitudinal black, and three white bands; fore part of the back streaked with reddish-brown and yellowish-grey; rump light yellowish-brown; quills dark brown, primaries edged with yellowish-grey, secondaries and their coverts with yellowish-red; edge of wing whitish; two bands of white on the wing, formed by the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts; tail-feathers brown, edged with yellowish-brown; throat greyish-white; cheeks, sides, and fore part of the neck, and a portion of the breast, ash-grey; abdomen white, sides, and lower tail-coverts yellowish-brown. Female similar to the male. Young in first plumage with the back, wings, and tail as in the adult, but duller, and the bands inconspicuous; on the head three greyish-white bands, streaked with dusky, and four dull greyish-brown bands similarly streaked; cheeks, sides, and fore part of the neck, with a portion of the breast dull greyish-white, streaked with dusky, the rest of the lower parts dull yellowish-white. At the second moult the colours approximate to those of the old bird, but the central band on the head is dull yellowish-brown, the lateral bands brownish-red; while the lower parts are of much duller tints.

Male, 7¹/₂, 10¹/₂.

Breeds from Newfoundland and Labrador northward. Abundant. Migratory. Passes southward in autumn beyond the Texas.

White-crowned Bunting, Emberiza leucophrys, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 49.

Fringilla leucophrys, Bonap. Syn. p. 479.

Fringilla (Zonotrichia) leucophrys, White-crowned Finch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 255.

White-crowned Bunting or Finch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 479.

White-crowned Sparrow, Fringilla leucophrys, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 88; v. v. p. 515.

193. 8. Fringilla atricapilla, Gmel. Black-and-yellow-crowned Finch.

Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 3. Male.

Bill dusky above, reddish-brown beneath; upper part of head black, with a median longitudinal band of yellow, changing behind to grey; upper parts yellowish-brown, tinged with grey; the feathers of the fore part of the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, with a central dusky spot; quills and larger coverts dark brown, bordered with reddish-brown, paler on the primaries; the tips of the secondary coverts and first row of small coverts white, forming two bands across the wing; tail-feathers brown, edged with yellowish-grey; sides of the head, throat, fore part and sides of the neck, and breast, light grey, the sides and lower tail-coverts pale yellowish-brown, the abdomen brownish-white. Young with the upper parts dull yellowish-grey, streaked with dusky; wings and tail dusky brown, the primaries and tail-feathers edged with yellowish-green; the lower parts greyish-white, streaked with dusky, the throat white, with a dusky band on each side, the sides and lower tail-coverts tinged with light yellowish-brown.

Male, 8, wing 3⁵/₁₂.

Rocky Mountains and Columbia River. Rare. Migratory.

Emberiza atricapilla, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 875.

Black-and-yellow-crowned Finch, Emberiza atricapilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 47.

GENUS X. PIPILO, Vieill. GROUND-FINCH.

Bill short, stout, narrower than the head, conical, somewhat compressed, acute; upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, the ridge narrow and distinct, the sides convex, the edges somewhat inflected, ascending for more than a third, then direct, with a slight festoon; notches very slight, tip declinate, narrow; lower mandible with the angle very short and broad, the dorsal line slightly convex, the sides rounded, the edges involute, the point acute. Nostrils basal, roundish, partially concealed by the feathers. Tarsus of moderate length, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather large, scutellate above, the first stronger, the lateral nearly equal. Claws rather long, moderately arched, slender, compressed, laterally grooved, acute. Small bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Plumage full, soft, and blended. Wings of ordinary length, much rounded, the fourth quill longest; tail long, rounded. Roof of upper mandible rather flat, with a narrow median and two broad lateral flattened ridges, tongue compressed, convex above, with a median groove, horny at the end, and pointed; œsophagus slightly dilated about the middle; stomach a strong muscular gizzard; intestine short; cœca small.

194. 1. Pipilo arcticus, Swains. Arctic Ground-Finch.

Plate CCCXCIV. Fig. 4. Male. Fig. 5. Female.

Head, neck all round, a part of the breast, and upper parts in general, black; sides and lower tail-coverts orange-red, the latter paler; central part of the breast and abdomen white; feathers of the tibia dusky, margined with whitish; an elongated patch on the outer web of all the scapulars, a small terminal spot on the first row of small coverts, and on the secondary coverts, and a large patch at the end of the inner web of the outer three tail-feathers on each side, white. Female smaller, differing only in having the parts which are black in the male dull brownish-black.

Male, 8¹/₂; wing, 3¹/₂. Female, 8; wing, 3¹/₄.

Columbia River, and northward to the Fur Countries. Abundant. Migratory.

Pyrgita (Pipilo) arctica, Arctic Ground-Finch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 260.

Arctic Ground-Finch, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 589.

Arctic Ground-Finch, Fringilla arctica, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 49.

195. 2. Pipilo erythrophthalmus, Linn. Towhe Ground-Finch.—Towhe Bunting. Ground Robin. Swamp Robin.

Plate XXIX. Male and Female.

Head, neck all round, a portion of the breast, and upper parts in general, black; sides and lower tail-coverts orange-red, the latter paler; central part of the breast and abdomen white; feathers of the tibia dusky, margined with whitish (no white spots on the scapulars or wing-coverts); a white patch on the wing, formed by the bases of the outer webs of six or seven of the primaries; outer three tail-feathers with a white patch toward the end on their inner webs chiefly (much more extended than in the last species). Female smaller, differing from the male only in having the parts which in him are deep black, dusky reddish-brown. Young in first plumage with the upper parts dull reddish-brown, streaked with brownish-black; the wings and tail as in the adult, the lower parts pale yellowish-grey, marked with short longitudinal streaks of dusky.

Male, 8¹/₂, 12.

Breeds from Texas along the Atlantic districts, as well as in the interior, northward to Labrador. Abundant. Migratory.

Towhe Bunting, Emberiza erythrophthalma, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 35.

Fringilla erythrophthalma, Bonap. Syn. p. 112.

Ground Robin or Towhe Finch, Fringilla erythrophthalma, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 515.

Towhe Bunting, Fringilla erythrophthalma, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 151; v. v. p. 511.

GENUS XI. ERYTHROSPIZA, Bonap. PURPLE-FINCH.

Bill rather short, robust, bulging, conical, pointed; upper mandible a little broader, with the nasal sinus very short and broad, the dorsal line a little convex, the ridge indistinct, the sides rounded, the edges a little inflected, ascending at the base, afterwards direct, the notches faint, the tip slightly deflected, rather acute; lower mandible with the angle short and rounded, the dorsal line ascending, straight, the back and sides rounded, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils roundish, partially concealed by the short reflexed bristly feathers. Head large, roundish-ovate; neck short, body moderate. Tarsus short, slender, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather small, first stout, lateral nearly equal. Claws slender, much compressed, well arched, acute. Plumage soft and rather blended; feathers of the hind head somewhat elongated and pointed. Wings of moderate length, rather pointed, the outer four quills longest. Tail of moderate length, deeply emarginate. Upper mandible concave beneath, with two prominent lines, of which the lateral are much larger; tongue higher than broad, channelled above, the tip somewhat rounded and concave; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach roundish, muscular; intestine short; cœca very small.

196. 1. Erythrospiza purpurea, Gmel. Crested Purple-Finch.—Purple Finch.

Plate IV. Male and Female.

Second quill longest, first shorter than third. Male with the head, neck, breast, back, and upper tail-coverts, crimson, paler behind; fore part of the back spotted with brown; quills, larger coverts, and tail, deep brown, margined with dull red. Female with the upper parts yellowish-olive, streaked with brown; a whitish band over the eye; lower parts greyish-white, streaked with brown. Young like the female.

Male, 6, 9.

During winter, from Texas to the Carolinas, and northward to Kentucky. In summer, from St Louis to the Columbia, and in the Fur Countries. Abundant.

Purple Finch, Fringilla purpurea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 119.

Purple Finch, Bonap. Syn. p. 114.

Fringilla purpurea Wilson, Crested Purple Finch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 264.

Purple Finch, Fringilla purpurea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. i. p. 24; v. v. p. 200.

197. 2. Erythrospiza frontalis, Say. Crimson-fronted Purple-Finch.

Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 2. Male.

Third quill longest, second and fourth equal; tail long, slightly emarginate, and a little rounded. Male with the forehead and a band over the eye, proceeding down the neck, crimson; throat, fore part of breast and sides, with the rump, rich carmine, the latter paler; upper parts greyish-brown, the head, hind neck, and fore part of back, tinged with crimson; feathers of wings and tail dusky, edged with brownish-grey; hind part of breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts yellowish-white, streaked with dusky. Female with the feathers of the upper parts brown, edged with brownish-white; the lower parts brownish-white, streaked with brown.

Male, 6¹/₄, wing, 3¹/₂.

Bases of Rocky Mountains. Rare. Migratory.

Fringilla frontalis, Say, Long's Exped. v. ii. p. 40.

Crimson-necked Bullfinch, Pyrrhula frontalis, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. i. pl. 1.

Crimson-fronted Bullfinch, Pyrrhula frontalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 534.

Crimson-necked Finch, Fringilla frontalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 230.

198. 3. Erythrospiza tephrocotis, Swains. Grey-crowned Purple-Finch.

Plate CCCCXXIV. Fig. 3. Male.

Male dark umber-brown; upper part of head ash-grey, anteriorly spotted with black; first row of small wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts broadly edged and tipped with rose-red, as are the feathers of the sides, and the lower tail-coverts, feathers of wings and tail dusky brown, margined with brownish-white, the secondary coverts with dull red.

Male, 6; wing, 4.

Saskatchewan River. Very rare. Migratory.

Linaria (Leucosticte) tephrocotis, Swainson's Grey-crowned Linnet, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 265.

Grey-crowned Linnet, Fringilla tephrocotis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 232.

GENUS XII. CORYTHUS, Cuv. PINE-FINCH.

Bill short, robust, bulging at the base, conical, acute; upper mandible of the same breadth as the lower, with its dorsal line very convex, the nasal sinus semicircular, the sides convex, the edges sharp, overlapping, gently ascending at the base, then arched, with a slight festoon, the notches obsolete, the tip declinate, acute; lower mandible with the angle semicircular, the dorsal line slightly convex, the back rounded at the base, the sides convex, the edges somewhat inflected, the tip obtuse. Nostrils basal, round, concealed by bristly feathers. Head large, roundish-ovate; neck short; body moderately stout; feet short; tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes stout, the first proportionally large, the lateral nearly equal, the outer adherent at the base. Claws long, moderately arched, compressed, acute, that of the third toe longer than that of the first. Plumage soft, full, rather blended; two tufts of bristly feathers at the base of the upper mandible directed forwards. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the first, second, and third, nearly equal. Tail rather long, deeply emarginate. Roof of the mouth concave, with five prominent ridges; tongue deeper than broad, in its distal half oblong, concave, obtuse, and horny; œsophagus dilated about the middle; stomach large, muscular, with the lateral muscles distinct, and the epithelium rugous, intestine long, and rather slender; cœca very small; cloaca oblong.

199. 1. Corythus Enucleator, Linn. Common Pine-finch.—Pine Grosbeak.

Plate CCCLVIII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male bright carmine, tinged with vermilion; the feathers on the fore part of the back and the scapulars greyish-brown in the centre; bristly feathers at the base of the bill blackish-brown; middle of the breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, light grey, the latter with a central dusky streak; wings blackish-brown; primaries edged with reddish-white, secondaries more broadly with white; secondary coverts and first row of small coverts tipped with reddish-white; smaller coverts edged with red. Female with the upper part of the head and hind neck yellowish-brown, the rump brownish-yellow, the rest of the upper parts light brownish-grey, wings and tail as in the male, but the white edgings and tips tinged with grey; cheeks and throat greyish-white, or yellowish; lower parts ash-grey, anteriorly tinged with brownish-yellow. The young resemble the female. Young males yellow and red, like those of Loxia curvirostra.

Male, 8¹/₂, 14. Female, 8¹/₄, 13¹/₂.

From Pennsylvania and New Jersey, in winter, eastward to Newfoundland. Breeds from Maine northward. Common. Migratory.

Pine Grosbeak, Loxia Enucleator, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. i. p. 80.

Pyrrhula Enucleator, Bonap. Syn. p. 119.

Pyrrhula (Corythus) Enucleator, Pine Bullfinch, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 262.

Pine Grosbeak or Bullfinch, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 535.

Pine Grosbeak, Pyrrhula Enucleator, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 414.

GENUS XIII. LOXIA, Linn. CROSSBILL.

Bill rather long, stout at the base, where it is much higher than broad, extremely compressed toward the end, the mandibles towards their extremity deflected to opposite sides, so as to cross each other; upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and deflected, the sides slightly convex, the edges sharp, and towards the end united, the tip excessively compressed and decurved; lower mandible with its angle semicircular, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and approximated at the tip, which is extremely acute. Nostrils small, basal, round, covered by the short bristly feathers. Head large, broadly ovate; neck short; body compact. Feet rather short and strong; tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes of moderate size, the first strong, the lateral nearly equal. Claws long, arched, very slender, much compressed, tapering to a fine point, that of the middle toe nearly as long as that of the first. Plumage soft, full, and blended. Two tufts of bristly feathers at the base of the upper mandible directed forwards. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer three primaries longest, the first generally exceeding the rest. Tail short, distinctly emarginate. Roof of the mouth concave, with three ridges, of which the median is much smaller; tongue deeper than broad, at the end oblong, obtuse, concave above, and horny; œsophagus dilated into a very large crop; stomach roundish, muscular, with the epithelium rugous; intestine of moderate length; cœca very small.

200. 1. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. Common Crossbill.

Plate CXCVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male dull light red, inclining to vermilion; the wings and tail blackish-brown, the feathers narrowly margined with dull red. Female with the upper parts greyish-brown, tinged with green, the rump dull greenish-yellow, the sides of the head and neck of the same colour as the back, the lower parts pale greyish-yellow, brighter on the fore part of the breast, wings and tail as in the male, but the feathers edged with dull yellowish. Young with the central part of the feathers greyish-brown, the edges yellowish-grey, the upper parts thus appearing spotted, the lower streaked with dusky. Young males vary in the tints of the plumage from yellowish-green to orange and vermilion.

Male, 7, 10.

From Maryland eastward and northward, to lat. 52. Breeds in Pennsylvania, New York, and the north-eastern States to Nova Scotia. Common. Migratory.

American Crossbill, Curvirostra americana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 44.

Loxia curvirostra, Bonap. Syn. p. 117.

Common Crossbill, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 583.

Common Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 559; v. v. p. 511.

201. 2. Loxia leucoptera, Gmel. White-winged Crossbill.

Plate CCCLXIV. Male, Female, and Young.

Bill excessively compressed, with the mandibles less curved. Male rich carmine, inclining to crimson; the feathers on the fore part and middle of the back dusky, excepting the tips; the scapulars, wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail black; two broad bands of white on the wings, the anterior formed by the first row of small coverts, and several of those adjoining, the other by the secondary coverts, of which the basal half only is black. Female with the feathers of the upper parts dusky, edged with greyish-yellow, the rump wax-yellow; the wings and tail as in the male, but with the white bands of less breadth; lower parts yellowish-grey, streaked with dusky, the fore part of the breast wax-yellow. Young similar to the female, but with the lower parts dull yellowish-grey, spotted and streaked with dark brown.

Male, 6¹/₂, 10⁵/₈. Female, 6¹/₄, 10.

During winter, as far south as Maryland. Not uncommon in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where a few breed. Common in Maine, Nova Scotia, Labrador, and the Fur Countries. Migratory.

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 48.

Loxia leucoptera, Bonap. Syn. p. 117.

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p.

Loxia leucoptera, White-winged Crossbill, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 263.

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 540.

White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 467.

GENUS XIV. CORYDALINA, Aud. LARK-FINCH.

Bill of the same form as in the Guiraca, but smaller, and approaching to that of Dolichonyx, being short, robust, conical, a little compressed; upper mandible a little narrower, with the dorsal line very slightly convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal sinus very broad and short, the sides convex, the edges ascending for a third of their length, then direct, the notches almost obsolete, the tip narrow; lower mandible with the angle short and very broad, the dorsal line ascending and slightly convex, the back broad, the sides rounded, the edges inflected, the tip pointed. Nostrils basal, roundish. Head large, ovate; neck short; body full. Feet of moderate length, stout; tarsus of ordinary length, compressed, with seven scutella; toes rather large, the first stouter, the lateral equal, the third very long. Claws rather long, arched, much compressed, laterally grooved, tapering to a very acute point. Plumage soft and blended. Bristles at the base of upper mandible feeble. Wings of moderate length, the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest, the fourth slightly shorter than the third; outer secondaries broadly rounded and emarginate; inner tapering to a rounded point, one of them, when the wing is closed, little shorter than the outer primaries. Tail of moderate length, a little rounded. Name from [Greek: Korydalos], a lark.

202. 1. Corydalina bicolor, Towns. Prairie Lark-Finch.

Plate CCCXC. Fig. 2. Male. Fig. 3. Female.

Male black, slightly tinged with grey; a large patch of white on the wing, including some of the smaller coverts, the tips of the first row, and their secondary coverts; primaries and outer secondaries narrowly, inner secondaries broadly margined with white; tail-feathers narrowly edged with white, and having a narrow speck of the same at the end of the inner web. Female smaller, with the upper parts greyish-brown, streaked with dusky brown; the lower white, with oblong spots of brownish-black, the abdomen nearly pure white, their sides tinged with reddish-brown; quills dark brown, edged and tipped with reddish-white; the patch on the wing of the same tint; tail-feathers dark brown, the outer externally edged, and all tipped with white on the inner web.

Male, 7, wing 3⁵/₁₂.

Plains of the Platte River. Plentiful. Migratory.

Fringilla bicolor, Prairie Finch, Towns. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, v. vii. p. 189.

Prairie Finch, Fringilla bicolor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 19.

GENUS XV. PITYLUS, Cuvier. CARDINAL GROSBEAK.

Bill rather short, very robust, much higher than broad, tapering to a point; upper mandible considerably smaller than the lower, with the dorsal line convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal sinus very wide, the sides convex, the edges ascending rapidly for a third of their length, then direct, with a slight festoon, slightly inflected, the notches faint, the tip a little deflected and narrow; lower mandible with the angle semicircular, the dorsal line straight, the sides at the base inflected, toward the end convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, round, concealed by the feathers. Plumage soft and blended, feathers of the head elongated and erectile; distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of moderate length, much rounded, the fourth and fifth quills longest, the first and eighth about equal. Tail long, rounded. Tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, hind toe stout, broad beneath, outer toe slightly longer than inner, and adherent at the base. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Upper mandible concave beneath, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue as high as broad, convex above, tapering to a point. Œsophagus nearly uniform, stomach pretty large, roundish, its lateral muscles strong.

203. 1. Pitylus Cardinalis, Linn. Common Cardinal Grosbeak.—Cardinal Bird. Red Bird. Virginian Nightingale.

Plate CLIX. Male and Female.

Male with the bill coral-red; plumage vermilion, duller on the upper parts; anterior part of forehead, lores, and throat black, inner webs of quills brown. Female with the bill paler, the upper parts yellowish-grey, the lower greyish-yellow, capistrum dusky; some of the crest-feathers, the wings and tail, as in the male, but of a fainter tint.

Male, 8¹/₂, 11¹/₂.

Breeds abundantly from Texas to New York. Very rare in Massachusetts. Valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri, Kentucky and Ohio. Resident from Maryland southward.

Cardinal Grosbeak, Loxia cardinalis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ii. p. 38.

Fringilla cardinalis, Bonap. Syn. p. 113.

Cardinal Grosbeak or Red Bird, Fringilla cardinalis, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 519.

Cardinal Grosbeak, Fringilla cardinalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 336; v. v. p. 514.

GENUS XVI. COCCOBORUS, Swains. SONG-GROSBEAK.

Bill rather short, extremely robust, almost as broad as the head and somewhat compressed, tapering to a point; upper mandible considerably smaller than the lower, with the dorsal line convex, the ridge indistinct, the nasal sinus very wide, the sides convex, the edges ascending for a third of their length, then direct, with a slight festoon, and inflected, the notches faint, the tip a little deflected, and narrow; lower mandible with the angle short and semicircular, the dorsal line straight, the sides at the base inflected, toward the end convex, the edges involute, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, round. Plumage somewhat compact, blended; distinct bristles at the base of the upper mandible. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer three quills nearly equal, the second longest. Tail of moderate length, slightly emarginate. Tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella; toes moderate, hind toe stout, broad beneath, outer toe slightly longer than inner, and adherent at the base. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, acute. Upper mandible concave beneath, with three longitudinal ridges; tongue as high as broad, convex above, tapering to a point; œsophagus rather wide, dilated about the middle; stomach rather small, roundish, compressed, with its muscles distinct and of moderate thickness, the epithelium longitudinally rugous; intestine short, and of moderate width; cœca very small.

204. 1. Coccoborus cœruleus, Linn. Blue Song-Grosbeak.

Plate CXXII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male blue; with the lores, chin, and a line round the base of the mandibles black; wings and tail brownish-black, the latter and the primaries edged with blue, the first row of small coverts and the secondary coverts tipped with reddish-brown. Female with the head and hind part of the back blue; the fore part of the back brown, the wings and tail as in the male, the lower parts light greyish-brown, the sides, and fore part of the neck and the breast tinged with blue. Young yellowish-brown, lighter beneath; the upper part of the head, the back, smaller wing-coverts, and upper tail-coverts tinged with dusky.

Male, 7¹/₂, 11.

From Texas to New Jersey, and up the Mississippi to Memphis. Rocky Mountains. Rather rare. Migratory.

Blue Grosbeak, Loxia cœrulea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. iii. p. 78.

Fringilla cœrulea, Bonap. Syn. p. 114.

Blue Grosbeak, Fringilla cœrulea, Nutt. Man. v. i. p. 529.

Blue Grosbeak, Fringilla cœrulea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. ii. p. 140; v. v. p. 508.

205. 2. Coccoborus Ludovicianus, Linn. Rose-breasted Song-Grosbeak.

Plate CXXVII. Male, Female, and Young.

Male with the head, neck, fore part of back, wings, and tail, black; lower part of the fore neck, a portion of the breast, axillars, and lower wing-coverts, rich carmine; hind part of the back, two bands on the wings, bases of primary quills, tips of secondaries, and terminal half of inner webs of outer three tail-feathers, white. Female with the upper parts light yellowish-brown, streaked with darker, the lower yellowish-white, the sides of the neck, fore part of breast, and sides streaked with yellowish-brown; three white bands on the head; white wing-bands narrower than in the male; axillars and lower wing-coverts light buff. Young like the female.