354 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XIX, No. 6, 



so that it is possible to compare both these forms in nuptial 

 plumage; furthermore, the identification of Passerculus sanc- 

 torum Coues with Passerculus rostratus guttatus Lawrence 

 furnishes additional evidence of the distinctness of Passerculus 

 rostratus halophilus, since it satisfactorily disposes of the 

 mystery surrounding the breeding place of Passerculus rostratus 

 guttatus. The present form, however, is clearly but a subspecies 

 of Passerculus rostratus rostratus, since some individuals show 

 vergence toward Passerculus rostratus guttatus, and we have 

 already made mention* of the inclination that some specimens 

 of Passerculus rostratus guttatus have toward Passerculus 

 rostratus halophilus. In breeding plumage the present subspecies 

 becomes very dark on the back, since the abrasion of the 

 plumage more or less obliterates the lighter areas and accen- 

 tuates the dark markings. 



So far as known, Passerculus rostratus halophilus is a very 

 local race, breeding certainly only at Abreojos Point on the 

 western coast of Lower California, where Mr. H. B. Kaeding 

 found eggs on April 19, 1897. t He also mentions, under 

 the nam.e Passerculus rostratus, sparrows of this species common 

 at San Juanico Bay, on June 12, 1897, which, on geographic 

 grounds, should belong to Passerculus rostratus halophilus , but 

 he appears to have collected no specimens there. The only 

 certain wintering ground of Passerculus rostratus halophilus 

 is the southern portion of Lower California, but it very possibly 

 migrates also northward from its breeding ground, as do the 

 two other subspecies of Passerculus rostratus. 



Thirty-nine specimens of this form have been examined, 

 from the localities given below: 



Lower California. — Abreojos Point (April 19, 1897 [type], 

 June 17, 1897, March 16, 1911); San Jose del Cabo (Jan. 8 

 and 9, 1906); Santa Maria Island (March 19, 1911); southern 

 end of Magdalena Bay (March 20, 1911); Mangrove Island 

 (March 20, 1911); Magdalena (March 21, 1911). 



* Cf. an tea, p. 353. 



t Condor, VII, September, 1905, p. 136. 



