234 Riley — Descriptions of Three New Birds from Canada. 



The average measurements of a series of willow ptarmigans taken in 

 tlic breeding season, except Lagopus lagopus alexandrse, from the various 

 parts of its range are as follows: 



cul- Depth 

 men of Bill 



One male, Norway 



Ten males, Ungava 



Five males, west side Hudson Bay . . . 

 Eight males, mountains Alberta and B. ('. 



Six males, northern Alaska 



One male, Lake Iliamna, Alaska . . . . 

 One male, Petropaulski, Kamchatka . . 



Ten females, Ungava 



Three females, west side Hudson Bay . . 

 Seven females, nits. Alberta and B. C. 



Melospiza melodia inexspectata subsp. nov. 



Type, U. S. National Museum, No. 222,829, adult female, three miles 

 east of Moose Lake, British Columbia, August 21, 1911. Collected by 

 J. H. Riley (original number 2268). 



Similar to Melospiza melodia rufina, but the browns of the upper parts 

 lacking the reddish tinge, thus giving to the hack a gray cast; below not 

 so heavily streaked; averaging smaller. Measurement of type: Wing, 

 65; tail, 63.5; culmen, 12; tarsus, 22 ; middle toe, 15.5. 



Remarks. — This race is founded on four specimens, as follows : the type 

 and a young male still in the juvenile plumage from the type locality; 

 one adult female from Henry House, Alberta, September 14, 1911 ; and 

 an adult female from near Telegraph ('reek (25 miles east, near Buckley 

 Lake), British Columbia, July 26, 1910, the latter specimen taken by 

 E. A. Preble and in the Biological Survey Collection. Average of the 

 three adult females: Wing, 63.8; tail, DO.:;; culmen, 12; tarsus, 21.:!; 

 middle toe, 15.7. Average of three adult females of Melospiza melodia 

 rufina from the Sitkan District taken at about the same season of the 

 year: Wing ; <>7; tail, 63.8; culmen, 12.8; tarsus, 22.8; noddle toe, 16. 



One of the interesting results of our trip was the discovery of this song 

 sparrow, which instead of resembling Melospiza melodia merrilli, as one 

 would naturally suppose, is more nearly related to the Pacific Coast, bird. 

 Its range is probably the interior mountain valleys from northern British 

 Columbia at least, south to Henry House, Alberta, and in migration 

 probably further. The bird taken at Henry House may have been a 

 migrant, hut the type was probably a breeding bird as the young male 

 taken at the same locality seems to indicate. 



Passerella iliaca altivagans subsp. nov. 



Type, IT. S. National Museum, No. 222,832, nearly adult male, Moose 

 Branch of the Smoky Liver, Alberta (about 7000 feet altitude), July 31, 

 1911. Collected by J. H. Riley (original number, 2175). 



