FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 243 



Passerculus sandwichensis: Savannah Sparrow 

 Passerculus sandwichensis anthinus 



Examination of a fairly large series of specimens revealed that 

 the birds of the Kodiak-Afognak group, Barren Islands, base of 

 Alaska Peninsula, and Cook Inlet average smaller than P. s. sand- 

 wichensis, and therefore they are referred to anthinus. The 

 length of bill usually is 10 mm. instead of 11 mm. The bill of 

 sandwichensis, on the other hand, rarely is less than 11 mm., and 

 it often reaches 12 mm. in length, sometimes more. The length 

 of wing averages less in anthinus. There is some overlapping of 

 characters. 



Localities represented by specimens are Kodiak, Middleton 

 Island, Barren Islands, Nushagak, Ugashik River, Chogiung, 

 Kakwok, Lake Iliamna, Hooper Bay, and Hope and Tyonek in 

 Cook Inlet. 



In June 1940, Gabrielson found Savannah sparrows to be com- 

 mon at Amatuli, Barren Islands, Kodiak, Afognak, and Semidi 

 Islands. Allen Duvall, who examined two immature specimens 

 taken in the Semidis by Gabrielson on August 5, 1945, states 

 that these are referable to anthinus on the basis of measure- 

 ments, but that it is not certain that they had reached full develop- 

 ment. There also is a specimen from Wide Bay, on the peninsula, 

 that appears to be anthinus. 



There are some puzzling specimens. I took a specimen on May 

 29, 1936, at Ugashik River (original No. 3536) that is larger 

 than usual, however the beak is not so heavy as most sand- 

 wichensis, and it seems referable to anthinus. 



On May 12 and 13, 1936, we heard Savannah sparrows singing 

 on Kodiak and Afognak Islands. On May 10 and 11, a number 

 of these birds were feeding on the gravel beach at Ushagat, 

 Barren Islands, and specimens were obtained. On May 14, a 

 Savannah sparrow passed our ship between Sutwik Island and 

 Cape Kumlin ; it is possible that these were migrating. On May 2, 

 near Yakutat, 1 of these sparrows had settled on our forward 

 deck, and the first mate reported 2 other "sparrows" on the deck. 



Howell found them to be common on Kodiak. On June 9, 1944, 

 he found a nest, containing 5 fresh eggs, in a swampy area at 

 Middle Bay, and, on June 17, he found a nest with 4 half-incu- 

 bated eggs in an open growth of grass and moss at an elevation 

 of 1,500 feet. 



Under the heading of alaudinus [anthinus], Osgood (1904) 

 says — 



Breeding abundantly on the treeless slopes and in the small grassy moun- 



