“Its favourite home appears to be the scattered Mesquite or Acacias that sprinkle the plains east of the Sierra Madre. Like many other birds of its family, it does not seek the shade during the warmer hours of mid-day, but may always be found chirping and hopping from one bush to another, apparently as much for the pleasure of enjoying the society of its fellows as to seek for food. “After striking south from Cadorcita, this little bird suddenly disappeared, much to my regret, as I had become so accustomed to seeing it constantly during my daily marches, that I almost regarded it as a travelling companion. But after nearly a month’s absence, I again recognized it among some flowering _Leguminosa_, between Pesqueria and Rinconada. I afterwards ascertained that it would thus be entirely absent from districts of considerable extent, but always reappeared again throughout my journey, and was always welcome. [Illustration: Plate 23 The Black-throated Finch Emberiza bilneata (_Cassin_)] “The usual note of this bird at the season in which I saw it, is a simple chirp; but one day, having halted during a _norther_, in the State of Tamaulipas, I amused myself watching a party of adult and young birds of this species, in the neighboring bushes. One gay little black-throated fellow, who was probably the father, showed unusual uneasiness at my presence, which fact led me particularly to observe him. After carefully reconnoitering and apparently satisfying himself that there was no immediate danger, he flew off a few yards to the top of a yellow mimosa then in bloom, and, regardless of the bitter wind still blowing, gave utterance to a strain of sprightly and sweet notes, that would have compared favorably with those of many a more famed songster of the feathered race. This was the only time that I ever heard this species indulge in anything more than a single chirp.” This little Finch was observed at various localities in Texas by gentlemen attached to the commission for running the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. The figure in our plate, which is that of an adult male from Lieut. Couch’s collection, is about two-thirds of the size of life. The plant represented is _Spirea Douglasii_, a native of western North America. DESCRIPTION AND TECHNICAL OBSERVATIONS. Genus Emberiza. Linnæus, Syst. Nat., I. p. 308. (1766.) Emberiza bilineata. Cassin, Proc. Acad., Philada., V. p. 104. (Oct. 1850.) Form. Rather short and compact; fourth quill slightly longest, but nearly equalled by the third and fifth; legs rather long and robust; tail moderate. Dimensions. Total length, about 5⅛ inches; wing, 2½; expanse from tip to tip, 8; tail, 2⅜ inches.