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Show 246 73. Passerella sckiblacea, Baird, var. megarynchus, Baird.- Thick- billed Sparrow. Pasurella tchutaes*, Baird, B. K. A., 1858,490 ( only in part) ( Fort Tejon). Pasterella megarynohtu, Coop., B. Cal., L 1870, 221 ( Fort Tejon and northward). Panerella towntendi var. tehutaeea, Couea, Key N. A. B., 1872,352 ( includes this form). Pasttrella towntendi var. megarynchut, B., B., & R., HT. A. B., ii, 1874,57, pL 88, 110. F Of the foar species or Tarieties of Passerella, the present bird is the most remarkable of all. In ooloration it approaches, most closely to the form of the northern middle region, P. schtitaoea, from which indeed it differs but little, if color alone be taken as a test. It has the same slate- gray, perhaps slightly darker, as the prevailing tint, contrasted on the wings and upper coverts with brownish rufous. It has associated with an unusual development or the hind claw, an increased size of bill, paralleled perhaps in no other case. This is so thick as to appear actually deformed. In the large series of the preceding bird collected there is no approach to this form in the size of these parts, while the type of coloration peculiar to either is always perfectly tangible and well preserved. Besides being actually larger, the relative proportions of wing and tail are very different. In the present bird, as in the schistaoeat the tail is very much longer than the wing. In toxcnsendi the tail is usually the shorter, sometimes, however, equaling the wing. I have, therefore, thought best to consider P. schUtace* as distinct from either townsendi or iliactu, assigning to it as a local variety megaryn-chus, which agrees with it in color and proportions. The relationship of the other two is probably similarly intimate. The Thick- billed Sparrow appears to be auite confined to California, where it is an exclusive inhabitant of the mountains, chiefly in the middle and southern parte. Mr. Ridgway found it abundant at Carson City, on the eastern slope of the Sierras, which is the northernmost locality recorded. In the mountains about Fort Tejon it was numerous enough in the month of August, but from its habits it was difficult to become very familiar with it, or even to procure specimens. Besides being of a naturally timid disposition it was only found in the chaparral, which was here composed chiefly of oak scrub ; I did not find them lower down than about 5,000 feet. When found feeding upon the ground on the outskirts of the thickets, they threw themselves with a peculiar loud sharp chirp into the undergrowth, and usually resisted all attempts to dislodge them by keeping in the thickest parts low down among the roots, and only flying, when absolutely compelled, to the next hiding- place. No. 371 404 405 WO Sex. rfad. cfad. $. 1an. cf jan. Locality. Mountains near Tejon, Cal. • • • • CIO • • * • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . . . . do .... do Date. Aag. 17 Aag. 19 Aug. 19 Aag. 3 Collector. H. W. Henshaw. . . . . do . . . . . . . . . .. .... do do Wing. 3.42 3.35 Tail 3.96 3.83 BilL 0.63 0.64 Tarsus. a 96 0.93 Depth ofbilL 0.9S a 56' 74. Guiraoa melanooephalus, ( Swains.).- Black- headed Grosbeak. This species, common throughout the middle region, is no less so on the Pacific slope. It occurs in all portions of California. During the summer it is rather partial to mountainous retreats, where it is found as often in the pine region as elsewhere; but it also graces the lower regions, and is found in the low valleys coming often about the houses. Its song is the most interesting part of its history, and in its melody this species is excelled by very few others. No. 96 ?"> 133 Sex. cf ad. c? Jan. tfad. Santa Barbara, C a l . . . . . . Locality. Date. Jane S7 Jane 29 Jane 17 Collector. H. W. Hen « b » w. Do. Do. 75. Guiraoa ccerulea, ( Linn.).- Blue Grosbeak. Though quite southern in its distribution, this Grosbeak appears to reaoh much farther north on the Pacific coast than in the interior, and Dr. Newberry has reported it from the extreme northern part of the State. We met with it at several places in Southern California, where it is pretty well diffused. It is never, I believe, found in the mountains, but inhabits the warm, sheltered valleys. |
