ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 



281 



marked with olive. The gray of the upper head is less clear in the 

 Kanitschatkau bird, aud the white od the chin is, perhai)s,on the whole, 

 of a greater extent; but in this respect there is great variation, specimens 

 of both forms being found quite alike. The character, however, which 

 to me seems worth most consideration, is the decided blackish color of 

 the eye-streak and the ear-patch, these parts being only brownish gray 

 in the European specimen before me. 



I have also compared my specimens with a line series of the Alas- 

 kan bird, most of which were collected by Mr. Lucien M. Turner, 

 at Saint Michaels. These are of the same size, having bills and toes 

 somewhat intermediate between the European aud the Kamtschatkan 

 examples. In color they are rather duller, especially showing a uni- 

 versal tendency to olivaceous dusky spots on the breast, and although 

 the eye-streak and the ear-patch, on the whole, are as dark as in my 

 birds, still a few show this character less pronounced. It is proper 

 to add that I have seen European specimens which were almost as 

 dull colored as those from Alaska. 



While it in some instances might not be safe to refer a specimen to 

 one or the other form without having a series of both forms at hand, 

 or without knowing the locality, still there is enough difference to war- 

 rant their subspecific separation. It may, besides, be well to bear in 

 mind the seeming difference of the Kamtschatkan specimens, especially 

 in regard to the longer bill. It is a question well worthy the atten- 

 tion of later investigators and collectors. 



List of 8pecmen8 collected and their dimensions. 



