BIRDS. 177 



A siugle specimon of tbis bird is recorded from Fort Eupert, Vancouver Island, Juue 1, 1862, 

 but tbis reference undoubtedly belongs to littoralis. Mr. Kidgway is Inclined to consider tbis bird 

 a well defined species, and to separate it from tbe form to wbicb it bas been referred, claiming 

 tbat tbe two do not intergade, as bas been supposed. Tbis supposition may be true, but it is diffi- 

 cult to definitely settle tbe matter until more is knov.n of tbe geograpbical range of tbe two. L. 

 arctoa bas been ascribed to tbe Aleutian Islands, but api>arently upon insufGcieut evidence, 

 altbougb Bonaparte and Scblegel, in tbeir work (loc. cit.), state tbat tbey bave seen specimens of 

 tbis bird wbicb were killed upon tbe islands. It was recorded by Steller as one of tbe birds be 

 found upon Bering Island, and it is well known from tbe Knrile Islands and tbe coast of Kaui- 

 cbatka. 



On tbe Commander Islands Stcjneger found griscomiclia resident, and most numerous on Copper 

 Island, wbere tbey frequented tbe rugged coast-line. Tbis observer notes tbem as a sbore-loving 

 species during tbe breeding season, but wbeu tbe young are able to follow tbe parents lead tbem 

 inland along tbe streams iu searcb of insects. He sbot full-fledged young on July 7, and adds 

 tbat many pairs raise two broods iu a season. 



It winters iu Soutbeasteru Siberia, frequenting tbe vicinity of villages, and becomes very 

 familiar, approacbing tbe bouses for its food. A young griseomtclia, about two-tbirds grown, obtained 

 on Saint George Island, on July 12, by Elliott, bas tbe entire body fuscous-brown or umber- brown. 

 A dingy rusty wasb on b.ack and breast. Tbe bead may be called a dark umber witb a grayisb 

 wasb. The outer edges of secondaries and wing-coverts pale rose. Tertials edged with rusty. 

 Wing and tail feathers dark brown-edged witb a narrow pale border. Tbe basil half of feathers on 

 body dull, pale plumbeous, wbicb shows through on the abdomen, and less distinctly on other 

 parts of tbe body, giving a peculiar shade to the general tint. A full-grown bird of tbis species, 

 iu tbis plumage, is figured with an adult iu Bonaparte and Scblegel. (Loc. cit.) 



Toward tbe close of the last century, Sauer, a member of Billings's Expedition, writes tbat the 

 Unalaskau Aleuts prized tbis bird for its feathers, which they used for ornamental purposes on 

 tbeir clothing. 



Leucosticte tephkocotis littoralis (Baird). Hepburn's Leucosticte. 



Tbe types of tbis form came from Sitka, wbere they were obtained during tbe explorations of 

 tbe Eussian-American Telegraph Expedition, and tbe original description is contained in a com- 

 munication by Professor Baird iu tbe Transactions of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, p. 318. 

 Since then specimens have been obtained from Sitka, Kadiak, British Columbia, Wyoming, and 

 various ijortions of tbe central Eocky Mountain region, as far south as Colorado. We learn from 

 Mr. Eidgway, in his monograph of this genus,* tbat littoralis occurs iu winter witb te])lirocotis 

 throughout the latter's southward range, the abundance of the former increasing to tbe westward. 

 " We have seen it iu tbe winter plumage from Kadiak and Sitka of tbe Alaskan coast, from Fort 

 Simpson, British Columbia, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado, while it is known to extend in very 

 severe winters as far southward as tbe parallel of 3"Jo in tlie Sierra Nevada and contiguous ranges 

 to tbe eastward. On tbe Cascade Mountains J. K. Lord found tbem in October.'' 



In summer plumage this race bas been obtained only in Colorado, wbere Mr. Aiken shot 

 it from flocks of tephrocotis as they were passing to tbe northward in the spring. From the fact 

 tbat it has been found during winter iu the northwest, from the island of Kadiak southward, it is 

 exceedingly probable tbat the breeding ground of this race is tbe coast syt^tem of mountain ranges 

 of Southeastern Alaska and British Columbia, i)ossibly extending southward m the alpine sum- 

 mits of the Cascades of Washington Territory and Oregon. Mr. Eidgway furtlier states tbat a 

 series of eleven winter specimens in tbe National Museum collection, representing tbe ^^ campestris" 

 style, forms a connection between littoralis and tephrocotis. On Kadiak Island littoralis and 

 griseonucha occur in company, and it„is possible that further study, in this and tbe adjoining regiou, 

 may show that the two forms intergrade. For a most complete and satisfactory treatment of 

 this genus those interested are referred to Mr. Eidgway's monograph, previously cited. The 

 Kadiak specimens, obtained in February, are indistinguishable in general coloration from the 



* Bull. U. S. Geol. aud Geog. Surv., I, No. 2, second series, 1875, p. 6^. 

 S. Mis. 150 23 



