_Fringilla bicolor_, TOWNSEND, J. A. N. Sc. Ph. VII, 1837, 189.—IB. Narrative, 1839, 346.—AUD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 19, pl. cccxc. _Calamospiza bicolor_, BONAP. List, 1838.—IB. Conspectus, 1850, 475.—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 492.—HEERM. X, c, 15. _Corydalina bicolor_, AUD. Synopsis, 1839, 130.—IB. Birds Am. III, 1841, 195, pl. cci.—MAX. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 347.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 225. _Dolichonyx bicolor_, NUTTALL, Manual, I, (2d ed.,) 1840, 203. SP. CHAR. _Male_ entirely black; a broad band on the wing (covering the whole of the greater coverts), with the outer edges of the quills and tail-feathers, white. Length, about 6.50; wing, 3.50; tail, 3.20; tarsus, 1.00; bill above, .60. _Female_ pale brown, streaked with darker above; beneath white, spotted and streaked rather sparsely with black on the breast and sides. Throat nearly immaculate. A maxillary stripe of black, bordered above by white. Region around the eye, a faint stripe above it, and an obscure crescent back of the ear-coverts, whitish. A broad fulvous white band across the ends of the greater wing-coverts; edge of wing white. Tail-feathers with a white spot at the end of the inner web. _Young._ Similar to the female; a faint buff tinge prevalent beneath, where the streaks are narrower; dark streaks above broader, the feathers bordered with buffy-white. HAB. High Central Plains to the Rocky Mountains; southwesterly to Valley of Mimbres and Sonora; San Antonio, Texas, winter (DRESSER, Ibis, 1865, 490). Fort Whipple, Arizona (COUES, P. A. N. S. 1866, 84). Parley’s Park, Utah (RIDGWAY). HABITS. This peculiar species, known by some writers as the Lark Bunting, and by others as the White-winged Blackbird, was first described by Townsend in 1837. He met with it when, in company with Mr. Nuttall, he made his western tour across the continent, on the 24th of May, soon after crossing the north branch of the Platte River. The latter writer regarded it as closely allied to the Bobolink, and described it as a _Dolichonyx_. He describes the birds as gregarious, consorting with the Cowbirds, and, at the time he met with them, uttering most delightful songs. Towards evening they sometimes saw these birds in all directions around them, on the hilly grounds, rising at intervals to some height, hovering and flapping their wings, and, at the same time, giving forth a song which Mr. Nuttall describes as being something like _weet-weet-wt-wt-wt_, notes that were between the hurried warble of the Bobolink and the melody of a Skylark. It is, he says, one of the sweetest songsters of the prairies, is tame and unsuspicious, and the whole employment of the little band seemed to be an ardent emulation of song.