358 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



58 Id. M. m. samuelis (Baird). Samuels Song Sparkow.^ 



Like heermanni, but smaller, with slenderer 



bill. Male : leng-th (skins) 4.9U-5.l)0, wing 2.21- 



2.51, tail 2.09-2.43, bill .43-.50. Female : length 



^. ,,, (skins) 5.0.5-5.61, wing 2.2 1-2.3S, tail 2.10-2.35, 



Fig.44G. bill.4.5-.49. 



Distribution. — Breeds on the coast region of California from Santa Cruz 



to Humboldt County. 



58 le. M. m. morphna (Oberh.) Rusty Song Sparrow.^ 



Adults. — Upper parts rusty olive, the rusty brown and black streaks 



obscured ; chest widely marked with heavy 



dark rufous streaks ; flanks olivaceous instead 



of tawny. Young : back dark brown streaked 



with blackish ; under parts whitish or buffy 



'^' ■ grayish : chest and sides buffy or brownish 



streaked with sooty brown. Male : length (skins) 5.69-6.46. wing 2.55- 



2.81, tail 2.39-2.87, 'bill .47-.54. Female: length (skins) 5.58-6.19, wing 



2.4.5-2.70, tail 2.28-2.67, bill .45-.52. 



Distribution. — Breeds in Canadian zone in the Pacific coast region from 

 southern Alaska to Oregon ; migrates to southern California. 



Nest. — As described by Kobb^, on horizontal branch of a small spruce, 

 about 5 feet from the ground, made of coarse grass stems lined with fine 



The rusty song sparrow is said to be an especially water-loving 

 subspecies, being found in swamps, brush patches along streams, 

 and coast waters. 



581f. M. m. rufina (Bonap.). Sooty Song Sparrow.^ 



Like ynorphna, but decidedly larger (except bill), darker, and more uni- 

 form sooty rather than rusty ; back obsoletely streaked. Male : length 

 (skins) 5.85-6.85, wing 2.63-3.02, tail 2.60-2.90, bill .48-.50. Female: 

 length (skins) 5.50-6.00, wing 2.-52-2.77, tail 2..30-2.76, bill .42-.50. 



Distribution. — Southern Alaska ; in winter to coast of British Colum- 

 bia, Vancouver Island, and Olympic Mountains. Washington ; accidental in 

 California. 



581h. M. m. graminea (Towns.). Santa Barbara Song Sparrow. 

 Similar to samuelis, but decidedly grayish above, the streaks both above 



1 Melospiza fasciata pusilbila 'Rxdig'w . Salt Marsh Song Sparrow. 



Like M. m. samuelis, but smaller, especially wings and tail ; less rusty above, super- 

 ciliary and under parts tinged with yellowish. 



Distribution. — Salt marshes of San Francisco Bay. {The Atik, xvi. 35.) 



Melospiza melodia cleonensis McGregor. Mendocino Song Sparrow. 



Size of samuelis, but lighter and more rusty. 



Distribution. — Coast of Mendocino County, California. {Bull. Cooper Orn. Club, 

 i. 87.) 



2 Melospiza fasciataingersoUi McGregor. Tehama Song Sparrow. 

 Similar to inorphva, but darker and without rusty wash. 



Distribution. — Northern Sacramento Valley, south in winter to San Francisco Bay. 

 {Bull. Cooper Orn. Club, i. 3r..) 



3 Melospiza cinerea phsea Fisher. Oregon Song Sparrow. 



Almost identical with rufina in color and markings, but between cleonensis and 

 morphna in size. 



Distribution. — Immediate vicinity of coast from Rogue River to Yaquima, Oregon. 

 {The Condor, iv. 36.) 



