Form. About the size or rather larger than _Cardinalis virginianus_ of North America; not strictly exhibiting the characters of this genus; bill short; lower mandible much thicker than the upper; gonys ascending abruptly; upper mandible curved; wings short; third, fourth and fifth quills nearly equal and longest; tail long; tarsi moderate; head with a conspicuous crest of lengthened erectile feathers. Dimensions. Total length of skin, about 8 inches; wing, 3¾; tail, 4¼ inches. Colors. _Male._—Plumage encircling the base of the bill; longer feathers of the crest, wide medial longitudinal band on the under parts, tibiæ, and under coverts of the wings, fine crimson; entire upper parts light cinerous, which is the color also of the sides and flanks; quills ashy brown, both webs edged with crimson; tail above and below dark crimson, tinged with brown; abdomen and under tail coverts pale rosy white, the feathers of the latter crimson at their bases; plumage of the breast edged and tipped with pale ashy; bill and tarsi pale yellowish. _Female._ Under wing coverts, edges of quills, crest, and tail, pale crimson, the last shaded with brown; entire plumage above cinerous, below yellowish-cinerous; no crimson on the forehead or on the throat or other under parts. Hab. Texas, Mexico. Spec. in Mus. Acad., Philada., and Nat. Mus., Washington city. Obs. This beautiful species, though in general form and appearance presenting the characters of _Cardinalis_, is quite different in the form of the bill, and has been placed by the distinguished and accomplished naturalist who first described it (the Prince of Canino) in a subdivision which he names _Pyrrhuloxia_ (Conspectus Avium, p. 500). It appears to be restricted to Mexico and the southern part of Texas, though its northern range may yet be ascertained to extend farther than at present known. It does not resemble any other species sufficiently to lead to confusion. [Illustration: Plate 34 The American Stone Chat Saxicola œnanthoides (_Vigors_)] SAXICOLA ŒNANTHOIDES.—Vigors. The American Stone Chat. PLATE XXXIV.—Adult. The Stone Chats and Wheat Ears, which are the English names of birds of the genus _Saxicola_, are abundant in the old world, though the greater number of the species appear to be restricted to Africa. The few that are natives of Europe are numerous throughout the greater part of that continent. They are birds of plain but agreeable colors, and inhabit fields and other open grounds or plains covered with shrub-like vegetation, running with facility, and making their nests on the ground, or in holes beneath the surface. These are curiously constructed by some species of this group, and very carefully concealed, though frequently in situations much exposed. There are nearly forty species of this group of birds composing the present and a nearly allied genus.