New Subspecies of Laxius Ludovicianus 89 



15.8 to 16 (average, 15. 9j mm.; tarsus, 2G.5 to 27 (2G.7); 

 middle toe without claw, 16-17 (16.3). 



Geographic distribution. — North central portion of 

 the peninsula of Lower California, from about north lati- 

 tude 29° to north latitude 31°. 



RemarliS. — This new form is similar to Lanius ludovi- 

 cianus anthonyi from Santa Cruz Island, California, but 

 has a longer bill, darker upper parts, and usually some- 

 what darker under surface, less whitish upper tail-coverts, 

 larger white spot at the base of the primaries, and aver- 

 age smaller white spots on tlie outer tail-feathers. It dif- 

 fers from the recently described Lanius ludovicianus nel- 

 soni ^ in its much darker upper and lower parts, the little 

 or no white on scapulars, smaller white wing speculum, 

 and less extensive white tail-spots. It is so different from 

 Lanius ludovicianus gamheli in its dark upper and lower 

 parts, lack of white on the scapulars, and much smaller 

 white tail-spots that no further comparison with that race 

 is necessary. 



It seems to be as nearly related to Lanius ludovicianus 

 anthoniji as to Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi, for in the re- 

 spects in which it differs from one, it resembles the other, 

 excepting chiefly its large bill and small white tail-spots, 

 in which it differs from both. Only one of these two island 

 forms, Lanius ludovicianus anthonyi and Lanius ludovi- 

 cianus mearnsi, has been recognized by recent authors, but 

 both now prove to be readily separable. 



This new subspecies is distinguishable in any plum- 

 age, even that of the partly grown juvenile. It seems to 

 have a limited geographic range in the north central part 

 of Lower California, a region in which many species have 

 races of darker coloration, for example, Colaptcs chrij- 

 soides brunneus, Toxostoma cinera mearnsi, Pipilo fuscus 

 senicula, and Dryobates scalaris eremicus. No specimens 



'Lanius ludovicianus nclsoni. Oberholser, Condor, XX, No. 6, 

 December 12, 1918, p. 209 (Todos Santos, southern Lower Cali- 

 fornia.) 



