1610 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 23 7 part 3 



paler color, are separable from those of Scandinavia and for these 

 he utilizes the name C. I. subcalcaratus (Brehm) . He includes all the 

 birds of Canada and Alaska within this subspecies and states: "The 

 N. American population comes nearest to C. I. subcalcaratus and is 

 best referred to that form; C. I. alascensis Ridgway is hardly worth 

 recognition." H. Johansen (1958) adopts this system and states 

 "Three population groups can be separated: lapponicus in Eurasia, 

 subcalcaratus in North -America and Greenland, and colaratus on the 

 Commander Islands and Kamchatka." Portenko (1960) believes 

 that the birds from Kamchatka are subspecifically distinct and has 

 given them the name kamtschaticus. Manning et al. (1956) indicate 

 that the birds of Baffin Island are even paler, and thus further removed 

 from the nominate race than those of Greenland, although they prefer 

 to leave the nomenclature unchanged pending a direct comparison of 

 good series of specimens. They suggest that the failure of Salomonsen 

 to recognize alascensis might be due to his lack of specimens in fresh 

 autumn plumage for the comparison that demonstrates their dis- 

 tinctness. 



In general, a weak cline of increasing paleness extends from Green- 

 land to the Aleutian Islands. Over this vast area, there is no con- 

 venient or realistic point at which to make a subspecific distinction 

 and, indeed, allocation to subspecies of specimens from Banks Island 

 (Manning et al. 1956) is difficult under the present system. It seems 

 reasonable that Salomonsen and Johansen have made the best 

 interpretation of the situation. 



With respect to differences in habits or behavior it is apparent 

 that these vary little or none at all among the different races. Famili- 

 arity with the extensive literature dealing with this species combine 

 with my own field experience over a period of 9 years, including 3 

 years when I conducted an intensive study of populational phenomena 

 at Cape Thompson, Alaska, confirm this belief. The bulk of the 

 account which follows derives from my own study at the latter 

 locality. 



Spring. — The wintering ground of the Alaska longspur includes the 

 southern part of British Columbia and the bulk of the western United 

 States south to New Mexico and Texas. Migration from this area 

 in spring must begin in March and early April as longspurs appear 

 as early as April 6 in southeastern Alaska (Grinnell, 1910). I have 

 observed migrants at Anchorage, Alaska, as early as April 24, and at 

 Homer, Alaska, on April 19. 



The general course of travel appears to be northwestward through 

 British Columbia and Yukon Territory and northward through the 

 western Mackenzie Valley (Irving, 1961). There is also a coastal 

 movement of birds whose arrival times are somewhat different from 



