Note 162 — {122} CHAPTER VII

Fringilla grammaca, Say.—Above blackish-brown; head lineated; beneath white, a black line from the inferior base of the inferior mandible, above this a dilated white line; from the angle of the mouth proceeds a black line, which is much dilated and ferruginous behind the eye, and terminates in a contracted black line; a black line from the eye to the superior mandible, enclosed, as well as the eye, by a dilated white line, which is more contracted behind the eye; top of the head with two dilated lines, which are black on the front and ferruginous on the crown and hind head, and separated from each other by a cinereous line; interscapulars and lesser wing coverts margined with dull cinereous or brownish; wings dusky brown, a white spot on the outer webs of the second, third, and fourth primaries, near their bases; back dirty olive-brown; tail rounded; tail feathers twelve, blackish-brown, two intermediate ones immaculate, adjoining ones with a small white spot at tip, which, on the lateral ones, increases in size until on the exterior one it occupies half of the total length of the feather; the exterior web of the outer feather is white to its base; chin and throat white; neck and breast dull cinereous; abdomen and vent white; feet pale, tinged with orange; nail of the middle toe slightly dilated on the inner side.

Length six and a quarter inches.

Shot at Belle Fontain on the Missouri. Many specimens were obtained. The auriculars of the female are yellowish-brown. They run upon the ground like a lark, seldom fly into a tree, and sing sweetly. They were subsequently observed at Engineer Cantonment.—James.