1472 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2,3 7 part 3 



Winter range. — Winters from central California (Hayward, 

 Modesto), southern Nevada (Boulder City), southern Arizona 

 (Phoenix, Patagonia), Chihuahua (Chihuahua), and southern Texas 

 (Kerrville) south to southern Baja California (El Sauce), Guatemala 

 (Finca La Primavera), and El Salvador (Los Esesmiles). In migra- 

 tion in western Kansas. 



Egg dates. — California: 29 records, May 24 to June 30; 22 records 

 June 13 to June 25. 



Colorado* 21 records, June 12 to July 14; 11 records June 20 to 

 June 26. 



Oregon: 6 records, June 13 to June 25. 



MELOSPIZA LINCOLN II GRACILIS (Kittlitz) 



Northwestern (Forbush's) Lincoln's Sparrow 



Contributed by Oliver L. Austin, Jr. 



Habits 



The Lincoln's sparrows breeding on the Pacific coast and islands 

 from southeastern Alaska to Vancouver Island average slightly smaller 

 in wing and tail measurements than the other two subspecies. P. A. 

 Taverner (1926) calls gracilis "a faintly defined race, slightly more 

 olivaceous on back and with the dark streaks heavier and more 

 numerous." 



J. Grinnell (1910) reports that Miss Alexander found the birds at 

 the head of Cordova Bay "occupying the upper end of the tide flat, 

 where they found cover in the low, stiff, willow-like brush that skirted 

 the sloughs." In the Sitka region George Willett (1914) says: "It is 

 apparently a fairly common summer visitant during some years, and 

 much less plentiful during others. In the summer of 1912 I found it 

 common in the grass around Swan Lake and in marshes at the head of 

 Silver Bay. Young birds just out of the nest were noted in the former 

 locality July 28. During 1913 I visited both of these localities several 

 times but failed to find the species at all, nor did I note it anywhere 

 else in the region." 



H. S. Swarth (1922) describes gracilis as probably occurring through- 

 out the upper Stikine Valley but, "judging from our experience, in 

 small numbers and at widely scattered points." When he reached 

 Sergief Island August 18th many birds were present, and "they 

 greatly increased in numbers within the next few days. At the upper 

 margin of the marshes, that section which is but rarely inundated by 

 the tides, there is much willow brush, increasing in density and size 

 of the trees as the salt water is left behind. The lower edge of this 

 strip, where the willow brush was about waist high and rather scat- 



