1917-] Recentli/ published Ornithological IVurks. 441 



Another interesting case considered at length by Mr. 

 Grinnell is that of the Western Meadow-lark (Sturnella 

 neglecta). This bird is essentially an inhabitant of grassy 

 plains and meadows, and wherever these are found through- 

 out California there are Meadow-larks, except above the 

 4500-foot level. Although there are plenty of meadow- 

 lands above that altitude in all parts of the mountains, no 

 Meadow-lark reaches them. In this case, too, there can be 

 little doubt that summer temperature is again the principal 

 limiting factor. 



Several other cases are discussed, and the final conclusion 

 is reached that, although the summer temperature is of great 

 importance — perhaps of the greatest importance — as a 

 limiting factor, other controlling agents- must be taken into 

 consideration, and each problem must be considered by itself 

 and all the various factors examined if a satisfactory con- 

 clusion is to be reached. 



Grinnell on the Evening Grosbeak. 



[The subspecies of Hesperijihona vespertina. By Joseph Grinnell. 

 Condor, xix. 1917, pp. 17-22.] 



The Evening Grosbeak is a handsome but somewhat 

 scarce bird, and is found over the greater part of North 

 America. Only two subspecies have been hitherto recog- 

 nised — the typical eastern [Hesperiphona v. vespertina) and a 

 western one {H. v. montana). This latter form was described 

 by Ridgway in 1874, but no type-locality was mentioned 

 or type -specimen indicated in the original description. 

 Subsequently a specimen in the U.S. National Museum 

 from Cantonment Burgwin in New Mexico was considered 

 the type of H. v. montana, and was so published by Mearns 

 in 1890. Mr. Grinnell, however, considers that as the 

 drawings illustrating llidgway^s original description were 

 made from another specimen, also in the U.S. National 

 Museum, obtained near Vera Cruz, this individual should 

 be considered the type, and Mexico near Vera Cruz the 

 type-locality. 



SER. X. VOL. V. 2 G 



