352 BULLETIN 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Icncu'ehs/'s, the latter connecting 31. c. eaurhm with M. c. insig^iis., 

 the last being intermediate between M. c. kenaiensln and 2L c. cinerea. 

 I have not yet seen specimens intermediate between 21. e. melodla 

 and M. c. montcma; between M. e. falhm and M. c. rivularis or 

 M. c. cdope7'i; between M. c. montana and 31. c. eooperi or 3L c. 

 samuelis; between 31. c. samuelis and 31. c. eooperi; between any 

 two of the three Mexican forms {3f. e. mexicana, 3f. c. adustcu and 

 3£ c. c/ohh/unu), nor between either of these and 3£ c. falla,i\ the 

 most proximate of the more northern forms. Except in the case of a 

 few, where wide deserts or other physical obstacles prevent continuous 

 distribution, there can not, however, be the slightest doubt that inter- 

 mediates will be found when specimens are collected at the proper 

 localities. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF MELOSPIZA. 



rt. First primary shorter than sixth (usually not longer than seventh) ; malar region 

 and chest not buff, or else rump not distinctly streaked. 

 h. Chest distinctly streaked with black, or brown, or rusty, on a white or whitish 

 ground, 

 c. Streaks on chest, etc., black or mostly black, or else upper tail-coverts with 

 distinct mesial streaks of blackish, and back distinctly streaked with l)lack. 

 d. Paler and grayer above, the interscapulars always conspicuously edged with 

 pale grayish or olive-grayish, 

 e. Larger, the wing averaging more than 59.69 in male, 59.18 or more in 

 female; pale "streaks on back more gray; under parts more narrowly 

 streaked, the streaks more brown. 

 /. Interscapulars with distinct brown streaks between the black mesial 

 streaks and grayish edgings. 

 g. Larger, wing averaging 67.31 or more in male, 65.02 or more in female. 

 li. Smaller (wing and tail averaging 67.31 and 66.80 in male, 65.02 and 

 63.75 in female); bill stouter (depth at base averaging 8.13 in 

 male, 7.87 in female). (Atlantic water-shed.) 



Melospiza cinerea melodia (p. 354. ) 

 hh. Larger (wing and tail averaging 69.34 and 69.60 in male, 66.29 and 

 66.80 in female ) ; bill more slender (depth at base averaging 7.37 

 in male, 7.11 in female). (Rocky mountain plateau.) 



Melospiza cinerea montana (p. 358.) 

 gg. Smaller, wing averaging 62.99 in male, 60.96 in female. (Coast dis- 

 trict of southern California to San C^nentin Piay, Lower California. ) 



Melospiza cinerea eooperi (p. 367.) 

 ff. Interscapulars without distinct (if any) brown streaks between black 

 mesial streaks and grayish edgings. 

 g. Larger, wing averaging 64. 77 in male, 62.23 in female. (San Clemente, 

 San Miguel, and Santa Rosa islands, California.) 



Melospiza cinerea clementae (p. 368.) 

 gg. Smaller, wing averaging 60.20 in male, 59.18 in female. (Santa Bar- 

 bara and Santa Cruz islands, California. ) 



Melospiza cinerea graminea (p. 369.) 

 ee. Smaller, the wing averaging 58.42 in male, 56.64 in female; paler streaks 

 on back more olive; ground color of under parts yellowish white or pale 

 yellowish. (Salt marshes of San Francisco Bay. ) 



Melospiza cinerea pusillula (p. 370.) 



