° 1918 J Oberholser, Subspecies of Numenius americanus. 193 



deposited in the United States National Museum, where it was 

 catalogued as No. 12644, and was subsequently mounted, but was 

 unfortunately destroyed by mistake in March, 1888, along with a 

 number of other supposedly worthless specimens. We have, 

 however, a figure of the type specimen which was given by Wood- 

 house in his report on this collection ; l and from this, together with 

 the description and measurements given by Dr. Woodhouse, 2 it is 

 evident that the bird is a representative of the small northern race 

 subsequently described by Dr. Bishop as Numenius americanus 

 parvus. These measurements are, in inches, as follows: wing, 

 11.50; bill, 4.20; tarsus, 2.80; middle toe, 1.35. That this indi- 

 vidual should be found in New Mexico as early as Aug. 20 is by no 

 means surprising or indicative of its identity with Numenius 

 americanus americanus, since these birds are notoriously early 

 migrants and move southward not infrequently in July. Examples 

 of Numenius americanus occidentalis have been obtained in south- 

 ern California on August 22, and on the island of Jamaica in July; 

 while, as already noted, 3 Numenius americanus america?ius some- 

 times reaches the Mexican Boundary as early as the middle of 

 July. We are therefore under the unfortunate necessity of sinking 

 Dr. Bishop's name, Numenius americanus parvus, as a synonym of 

 Numenius americanus occidentalis Woodhouse. 



Specimens examined. — We have seen 190 specimens of this 

 subspecies, from the following localities: 



Alberta. — Many Island Lake, near Walsh, June 18, 1906 [nest- 

 ling and adult]); Walsh (July 12, 1906 [juv."|); Calgary (May 18, 

 1904); western Assiniboia (June 1, 1905). 



British Columbia. — Vernon (July 20, 1892) ; Lac La Hache 

 (June 29, 1892); Okanagan (July 22, 28, and 29, 1902; Oct. 29, 

 1902; July 14, 1911). 



Saskatchewan. — Hay Creek, Maple Creek (July 3, 1906) ; Hay 

 Lake (May 29, 1905); Maple Creek (June 11, 1906); Crane Lake, 

 Maple Creek (June 17, 22, 23, and 26, 1906; June 17, 1907); 

 Big Stick Lake, Maple Creek (July 18, 1906; June 13, 1906). 



1 Sitgreaves' Rep. Zuni and Colorado Rivers, 1853, p. 98, pi. (i. 



2 hoc. cit., p. 98. 



3 Anlea, p. 



