568 PROCEEDINGS OF THE jSTATIONAL, MUSEUM vol.88 



in many cases the formenkreis and the species unit may coincide, in 

 others the formenkreis may include units that are truly separate 

 specific entities, as well as those that cover intergrading geographic 

 races. It is only confusing and misleading to label distinct species 

 with a trinomial in the same manner as very slightly differentiated 

 subspecies. In some cases, in fact, the formenkreis may have the 

 same value as the subgenus, from a nomenclatural standpoint. In the 

 present case the Ipswich sparrow should continue to be listed as 

 Passerculus princeps. 



With the rest of the conclusions reached by Peters and Griscom 

 with regard to eastern forms of the Savannah sparrow I am in 

 accord, though I believe that the material available now indicates a 

 slightly different understanding of the distribution of the far north- 

 ern forms. Disregarding for the moment the very gray race Tieva- 

 densis, which breeds from British Columbia, east of the Cascade 

 Range, to Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and eastward to Minne- 

 sota and southern Wisconsin, the two authors in question have recog- 

 nized two very dark forms heavily marked with black. One of these, 

 oblitus from the western side of Hudson Bay, has the dorsal surface, 

 aside from the very black dark markings, distinctly gray. The other, 

 Idbraclorius, is as definitely brown. The race labradorius seems to 

 have its maximum expression in deep brown color in birds that I 

 have seen from Fort Chimo, in northern Ungava, while toward the 

 southeast in Labrador and Newfoundland it begins to intergrade with 

 the more southern form, savanna. This seems to indicate a wider 

 breeding range for labradorius than previously supposed to the west 

 of Labrador, from which area many of the very dark brown birds 

 migrate southward into the Mississippi Valley. Here they mingle 

 with the grayer dark birds oblitus that are migrant from areas far- 

 ther west. This conception gives a more extended winter range to 

 Idboradorius., as Peters and Griscom have reported this form in fall, 

 winter, and spring mainly along the Atlantic seaboard. 



The race savanna is marked by lighter-brown dorsal plumage, with 

 the sides of the head paler, and the spots and streaks on the under 

 surface somewhat reduced and in the main dark brown. 



The following specimens from Kentucky are identified as P. s. sa- 

 vanna: Cerulean, November 5; Canton, November 2; Madisonville, 

 October 24; South Carrollton, October 24, 25, and 27; Roundhill, 

 November 12; Bardstown, March 3, 1882 (taken by C. W. Beckham) ; 

 Berea, October 6; and Richmond, October 4. 



West Virginia specimens are as follows: Big Burn, near Yokum 

 Knob, Middle Mountain, July 4, 1936; 3,200 feet elevation on Flat 

 Top Mountain, near Flat Top, October 15, 1936. (The remaining 



