Habits. The St. Lucas Finch is a new species, in regard to the habits of which nothing whatever is as yet known. It was obtained at San José, in Lower California, by Mr. John Xantus, in December, 1859. It was found in company with a flock of Passerculus rostratus, and the presumption is that its habits may resemble those of that little-known species.
Genus POOCÆTES, Baird.
Poocætes, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 447. (Type, Fringilla graminea, Gm.)
Gen. Char. Bill rather large; upper outline slightly decurved towards the end, lower straight; commissure slightly concave. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe; outer toe a little longer than the inner, its claw reaching to the concealed base of the middle claw; hind toe reaching to the middle of the middle claw. Wings unusually long, reaching to the middle of the tail as far as the coverts, and pointed; the primaries considerably longer than the secondaries, which are not much surpassed by the tertiaries; second and third quills longest; first little shorter, about equal to the fourth, shorter than the tail; the outer feathers scarcely shorter; the feathers rather stiff; each one acuminate and sharply pointed; the feathers broad nearly to the end, when they are obliquely truncate. Streaked with brown above everywhere; beneath, on the breast and sides. The lateral tail-feather is white. Shoulder chestnut-brown.
PLATE XXV.
1. Passerculus guttatus. Cape St. Lucas, 26615.