_Plectrophanes melanomus_, BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 436, pl. lxxiv,
f. 2.—HEERMANN, X, c, 13.
SP. CHAR. Bill yellowish, dark brown along the culmen. _Male._ Crown,
a short stripe behind the eye, and a short crescent behind the
ear-coverts, entire breast as far back as the thighs, and the lesser
wing-coverts, black. The black on the breast margined with dark
cinnamon. Sides of head, chin, throat, and region behind the black of
the belly, white. A broad half-collar of dark cinnamon-brown on the
back of the neck. Tail-feathers mostly white; the innermost tipped
with dark brown; the white ending in an acute angle. Length, 5.30;
wing, 3.40; tail, 2.60. (No. 6,290.)
HAB. Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, Mexico, on the table-lands,
north to Upper Missouri. Orizaba (SCLATER, 1860, 251); San Antonio,
Texas, spring (DRESSER, Ibis, 1865, 486); Fort Whipple, Arizona
(COUES, P. A. N. S. 1866, 84); Vera Cruz, plateau, breeding
(SUMICHRAST, I, 551).
As already stated, this bird is very similar to _P. ornatus_. It
appears to be a very little larger, or, at any rate, with considerably
longer wings. The bill, however, is shorter and stouter; the hind claw
decidedly longer. The chestnut of the back of the neck is darker. The
white on the outer web of the tertiaries and secondaries is much purer
and wider. The rufous margins of the pectoral feathers we have never
seen in _P. ornatus_. The most striking peculiarity, however, is in
having the shoulders black, instead of brown like the rest of the
wing-feathers, edged with paler. Both have the white posterior row of
lesser wing-coverts.
An immature male (6,291) has the black of the head mixed with brown,
and a maxillary series of spots on each side of the throat. A female
has a similar series of spots; the under parts generally being
brownish-white, the shafts across the breast and along the sides
streaked with brown, the concealed portions of the feathers light
brown, fading out to the whitish exterior. There is no black on the
shoulder, nor chestnut on the nape.
Fully mature specimens of this bird and of _ornatus_ are so rare in
collections as to render it difficult to decide positively as to their
true relationship. It is by no means impossible that they merely
represent different conditions of plumage of one species, but for the
present, at least, we prefer to consider them as distinct. The _P.
melanomus_ is resident on the table-lands of Mexico.
HABITS. Of the habits and general history of this species, very little
is known. Its close resemblance to _P. ornatus_ is suggestive of its
probably equally close similarity in nesting, eggs, and manner of
feeding. Specimens have been received from Mexico, from Fort Thorn,
from New Mexico, Pole Creek, and the Black Hills. From the last-named
places they were obtained in August and September.
Dr. Heermann, in his Report on the birds observed in Lieutenant
Parke’s route near the 32d parallel, mentions having met with these
birds, which he calls the Black-shouldered Longspur, at a large
prairie-dog village some miles west of Puerto del Dado. They were in
flocks, and were associated with _P. maccowni_. From that point to the
Rio Grande he found both of these species abundant wherever they
struck isolated water-holes, these being the only places for miles
around where drink can be procured. When shot at, they rise as if to
go away, but are forced to return, after describing a few curves, to
the only spot where they can procure their necessary drink. They may
thus be killed in great numbers. Dr. Heermann states that he has seen
from a hundred to a hundred and fifty thus brought down in four or
five discharges of a gun.
Mr. Dresser states that on the 4th of April a small flock of what was
at first supposed to be the _P. ornatus_ was noticed near the town of
San Antonio. They were pursued, and found on the banks of the San
Pedro. They were not very shy, and specimens were procured which
proved to be of this species. This is the only time that they have
been observed in that part of the country, though they may have been
mistaken for other species.
[Illustration: PLATE XXIV.
1. Plectrophanes maccowni. ♂ Dakota, 35951.
2. “ nivalis. ♂ Ft. Resolution, B. A., 19632.
3. “ ornatus. ♂ Ft. Union, Dakota, 1907.
4. “ pictus. ♂ Ft. Simpson, B. A., 19659.
5. “ “ ♀ 19664.
6. “ melanomus. ♂ Dakota, 35359.
7. “ lapponicus. ♂ Ft. Resolution, B. A., 19647.
8. Passerculus savanna. D. C., 10145.
9. “ sandwichensis. Washington Ter., 6343.
10. “ anthinus. Cal. (Petaluma), 5555.
11. “ alaudinus. Utah, 53483.
12. “ rostratus. Cal. (San Diego), 6340.]
Dr. Coues mentions the taking of a single specimen of this species,
October 17, on the open grassy plains of Arizona.
This species is also given by Mr. Sumichrast as a resident throughout
the year of the great plains of the plateau of Mexico. From them it
occasionally descends to the distant intervals, as far as Orizaba, or
at the elevation, above the gulf-level, of 1,220 metres.
Plectrophanes maccowni, LAWRENCE.