1887.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 673 



stay iu that part of the country " (Dresser). At Boerue, Brown notes it 

 as an uncommon migrant, observ^ed between February 11 and 21. 



Genus POOC^ETES Baikd. 



176. Pooccetes gramineus confinis Baird. "Western Vesper Sparrow. 



The Vesper Sparrow is another bird that evidences the fact of the 

 intergradatiou of eastern and western forms here. Only two of the 

 eleven specimens taken in Texas — one atBeeville and the other at Leon 

 Springs — appear to be typical confinis; all of the otliers are darker and 

 in other respects are intermediate between the eastern and western 

 forms. As to this point Brown says of his Boerne birds: "Several 

 were taken in i^lumage intermediate between this and the eastern 

 form ; and one which can hardly be referred to anything but gramineus 

 proper." I fouiul the bird abundant at all of tlu> places visited, and 

 occasionally heard it singing throughout the winter. It was seen 

 quite as often out in the mesquite as in cultivated fields near water. 

 Dresser says it is " common near San Antonio iu August and Septem- 

 ber, as well as in ^lay and June ; a few remaining to breed there." 



Genua AMMODRAMUS Swainson. 



177. Ammodramus sand wichensis savanna (WiLS.). Savanna Sparrow, 

 Seunett and Hancock both report this bird as common at Corpus 

 Christi, but it is possible that they refer to alaudinus. The latter, how- 

 ever, distinguishes both varieties as occurring there. 



178. Ammodramus sandwichensis alaudinus (Boxap. ). Western Savanna Spar- 

 row. 



Common at San Antonio and Corpus Christi ; more so at the latter 

 place. I did not see the bird at Beeville or Leon Springs. About one- 

 half of the specimens collected (twelve of them) are typical alaudinus, 

 the others are intermediate between this and savanna, the character- 

 istic eastern province form. Hancock found it at Corpus Christi, and 

 Brown records it as common at Boerne. " Early in April I found this 

 bird very common on the San Pedro close to the town of San Antonio" 

 (Dresser). 



179. Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus Ridgw. Western Grasshopper 



Sparrow. 



I found this Sparrow rather common in the mesquite pastures about 

 Beeville, though very shy, but 1 did not see it at Corpus Christi, where 

 Hancock observed it quite often. At San Antonio they were often seen 

 during the winter, and they became very common there early in March- 

 I noticed a good many at Leon Springs, but Brown, it seems, took but 

 one specimen at Boerne, 10 or 12 miles distant. AVhile out collect- 

 ing one day near San Antonio I wounded one of these birds, which 

 fluttered off a short distance, anil was seized and carried off before ray 

 astonished eyes by a Shrike. A similar experience with one of these 

 Proc. N. M. 87 43 



