SP. CHAR. Generally similar to _J. hyemalis_, but considerably larger,
with more robust bill; two white bands on the wing, and three, instead
of two, outer tail-feathers entirely white. No. 61,302 ♂, El Paso Co.,
Colorado, December 11, 1871, C. E. Aiken: Head, neck, jugulum, and
entire upper parts clear ash; the back with a bluish tinge; the lores,
quills, and tail-feathers darker; middle and secondary wing-coverts
rather broadly tipped with white, forming two conspicuous bands. Lower
part of the breast, abdomen, and crissum pure white, the anterior
outline against the ash of the jugulum convex; sides tinged with ash.
Three lateral tail-feathers entirely white, the third, however, with a
narrow streak of dusky on the terminal third of the outer web; the
next feather mostly plumbeous, with the basal fourth of the outer web,
and the terminal half of the inner, along the shaft, white. Wing,
3.40; tail, 3.20; culmen, .50; depth of bill at base, .30; tarsus,
.80.
HAB. El Paso County, Colorado.
At first sight, this bird appears to be a very distinct species, being
larger than any other North American form, and possessing in the white
bands on the wing characters entirely peculiar. Its large size,
however, we can attribute to its alpine habitat, agreeing in this
respect, as compared with _J. hyemalis_, with the _J. alticola_ of
Guatemala, which we can only consider an alpine or somewhat local form
of _J. cinereus_. That the white bands on the wing do not constitute a
character sufficiently important to be considered of specific value is
proved by the fact that in many specimens of _J. oregonus_, and
occasionally in _J. hyemalis_, there is sometimes quite a distinct
tendency to these bands in the form of obscure white tips to the
coverts.
HABITS. But little is known as to the habits of this variety; probably
they do not differ from those of its congeners. It was met with by Mr.
C. E. Aiken, near Fountain, El Paso County, in Colorado Territory, in
the winter of 1871-72. They were rare in the early winter, became
rather common during the latter part of February and the first of
March, and had all disappeared by the first of April. During winter
only males were seen, but, in the spring, the females were the most
numerous. They were usually seen singly, or in companies of two or
three, and not, like the others, in larger flocks.
Junco oregonus, SCLATER.