134 BULLETIN : MUSEUM OF COMPAKATIVE ZOOLOGY. 



specimen). Bryant, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2d ser., II. 1889, 23, 24 (descr. 



nest and eggs from Comondu), 1197 (Cape Region). Townsend, Proc. U. S. 



Nat. Mus., XIII. 1890, 137 (Cape St. Lucas). 

 C.[arpoducus] mexicanus ruberrimus Ridgwat, Loc. cit., 594. 

 Carpodacus mexicanus ruberrimus Ridgwat, Loc. cit., 592. Bryant, Loc. cit., 296 



(Cape Region). 

 C.[arpodaciis] ruberrimus McGregor, Condor, 111. 1901, 13, 14 (dicbromatism in 



birds from San Jose' del Cabo). 



Mr. Ridgway has claimed ^ that the House Finch of Lower California differs 

 from C. m. frontalis: " (1) in the smaller general size, (2) rather more swollen 

 bill, and (3) greater extension of the red." That the first and second of those 

 characters are so variable as to be practically worthless, is shown conclusively 

 by the large series collected by Mr. Frazar, but the extreme extension of the 

 red is sufficiently constant in these specimens to fully warrant the recognition 

 of the Lower California bird under the appropriate name which Mr. Eidgway 

 has proposed. 



I cannot, however, endorse the still more recent separation which Mr. Ridgway 

 has made ^ of Carpodacus nuxicanus sonoriensis, based on the bird of " Southern 

 Sonora (north to Guaymas on the coast) and southeastern Chihuahua," which 

 is said to differ from ruberrimus of Lower California only in having longer 

 wings and tail and slightly smaller bill. It is true that, as a rule, my ex- 

 amples from the Cape Region are characterized by somewhat thicker or more 

 swollen bills than are possessed by those which I have received from Guaymas 

 and Alamos, Sonora, but the birds of the two regions, as represented in my 

 collection, do not show (even by averages of measurements) the difference in 

 respect to the length of the wings and tail which Mr. Ridgway has noted. 

 I am therefore forced to regard them both as referable to the same form 

 (ruberrimus'). 



Imlividual variations : — The males vary considerably in general size, and 

 excessively in respect to the size and shape of the bill. The under tail coverts 

 are always tinged with red, and in the majority of specimens this color extends 

 Avell down over the abdomen, while in a few it spreads over the entire 

 under parts, never, however, quite concealing the underlying white of the 

 abdomen, anal region and under tail coverts nor obscuring the brown streaks 

 on the sides. On the upper parts, the red invariably tinges the entire back as 

 well as occasionally the sides of the head, excepting the lores. Its tint differs 

 somewhat with different individuals and very considerably with season. In 

 spring specimens it varies from poppy red to brilliant carmine, in autumn 

 birds it is nearly uniform dull wine purple. Fully fifty per cent of my spring 

 males and a few autumnal ones, also, show more or less yellow on the under 

 parts, usually either on the breast or sides. Young males in autumn plumage 

 are apparently not distinguishable from adults taken at the same season. 



1 Man. N. Amer. Birds, 2d. ed., 1896, 391, footnote. 



2 Birds N. and Midd. Amer., pt. I. 1901, 135, 136. 



