358 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



581d. M- m. samuelis [Baird). Samuels Song Sparkow.^ 



Like heermanni, but smaller, with slenderer 



.,^.. bill. Male : length (skins) 4.99-5.U0, wing- 2.21- 



t^ 2.51, tail 2.09-2.43, bill .43-.50. Female : leng-th 



(skins) 5.05-5.61, wing 2.21-2.38, tail 2.10-2.35, 



/''^•^^«- bill.45-.49. ... 



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



to Humboldt County. 



58 le. M. m. morphna Oberh. Rusty Song Sparrow.- 



Ailults. — 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 blackisli ; 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 

 grass. 



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

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

 and coast waters. 



58 If. M. m. rufina [Bonap.). Sooty Song Sparrow.^ 



Like morphia, 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. 



58 Ih. M. m. graminea (Towns.). Santa Barbara Song Sparrow. 

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



1 Melospiza fasciata pnsilhda 'R'xrl^w. Salt Marsh Song Sparrow. 



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

 ciliary and under parts tinged with yellowisli. 



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



Melospiza melodia cleonensis McGregor. Mendocino Song Sparrow. 



Size of samuelis, but lighter and more i"usty. 



Distribution. — Coast of Mendocino County, California. {Bull. Cooper Oi^n. Club, 

 i. 87.) 



2 3Telospiza fasciata ingersolli McGregor. Tehama Song Sparrow. 

 Similar to morphim, but darker and without rusty wash. 



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

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



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.) 



