CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 54 1 



581/. Sooty Song Sparrow. 



Melospiza cinerea rufina (Bon AF.) Ridgw. 1901. 



An abundant resident chiefly along the coast of the mainland, 

 B.C. (Fannin.) An abundant resident in the Fraser valley, near 

 the International boundary, in the summer of 1901, in 1905 and 

 1906; rather common along the seashore at Hastings, Burrard inlet, 

 in May, 1889, and seen at Comox, Vancouver island, June, 1893, 

 and Clayoquot sound in 1907. Found a nest along the Chilli wack 

 river. May 7, 1906; it was in a clump of dead ferns and made of weeds 

 lined with fine grass. (Spreadborough.) No specimens of this form 

 were collected in the breeding season along the coast of British 

 Columbia by me. (Rhoads.) Common at New Westminster and 

 at English bay and Stanley park, near Vancouver, B.C., 1894. 

 (E. F. G. White.) 



Tolerably common in the bushy or grassy margins of the forests 

 along the beaches at Sitka, Alaska. (Grinnell.) Very abundant 

 on Queen Charlotte islands. A few nests were taken, one was 

 situated in a bunch of weeds near the water's edge and contained 

 two fresh eggs, all nests taken were in the same situation. (Osgood.) 

 We heard several singing at Skagway, May 31st, 1899, and others 

 were seen at Haines mission, June ist and 2nd. (Bishop.) In the 

 wooded coast region of southeastern Alaska, including Sitka, and 

 thence northwest to Lituya bay and Kadiak, this bird is abundant, 

 but beyond this limited region it is unknown at present. (Nelson.) 



58lj. Dakota Song Sparrow. 



Melospiza cinerea juddi (Bishop) A. O. U. Comm. 1901. 



This sub-species is found throughout southern Saskatchewan, At 

 Yorkton, Sask., June ist, 1901, I found a nest of this bird containing 

 four eggs, built on the ground amongst short grass. (W. Raine.) 

 Uncommon in the underbrush along Skull creek. Maple creek and 

 in the Cypress hills, Sask. (A. C. Bent.) Our specimens taken on 

 many parts of the prairie are all placed with the eastern form by 

 Mr. Oberholser. (Macoun.) 



