Vol. XXI 

 1904 



I Grinnell, Status of Melosfiza liucolnt striata. ^7^ 



As shown by the above references, the validity of a Northwest 

 Coast race of Melospiza liiicolni has been as often doubted as 

 affirmed. Ever since I began the systematic study of west- 

 coast birds, this question has particularly interested me, and I 

 have seldom neglected an opportunity to secure relevant specimens 

 or information. As a result there is now at hand material which 

 clearly demonstrates the existence of the form striata, as described 

 fifteen years ago by Mr. Brewster. 



It seems that heretofore breeding birds have been wanting; but 

 fine specimens, now available, from Sitka and Wrangel show the 

 summer habitat of striata to be the Sitkan District, of Nelson, in 

 southeastern Alaska. A sharply defined winter habitat, also, is 

 constituted by the humid coast belt of California (San Francisco 

 Bay Region, Santa Cruz and Northern Humid Coast Districts, as 

 mapped in Pacific Coast Avifauna Number 3). Melospiza lin- 

 colni lincolni occurs commonly in other parts of California in win- 

 ter and especially during migration, and a few breed in the Sierras. 

 But Melospiza lincolni striata seems to be the only form wintering 

 in the above indicated habitat, and does not regularly move beyond 

 its limits. These statements are drawn from about forty-five skins 

 of both forms examined from California. Mr. McGregor has 

 recorded a specimen of striata from Battle Creek, while Mr. Brew- 

 ster refers a single skin from Lower California to the same form ; 

 but these may be considered exceptional. I may here remark that 

 I have so far failed to find a really satisfactory "intermediate," 

 though alleged cases have been recorded. Mr. Brewster's type 

 was a male in fresh fall plumage (Comox, B. C, Sept. 8). His 

 painstaking and detailed description applies precisely to a speci- 

 men (J*, No. 5016 Coll. J. G. ; Pacific Grove, Monterey County, 

 California; Dec. 26, 1901) which is selected as being representa- 

 tive of my winter series. The summer plumage of striata {$ ad. 

 No. 5341 Coll. J. G. ; Wrangel, Alaska; June 25, 1902 ; collected 

 by M. P. Anderson) differs from the winter plumage in greater 

 conspicuousness of black markings, and in paleness and restriction 

 of buffy suffusion, both evidently due to abrasion and slight fading. 

 Compared with liticolni of equally worn plumage the upper parts of 

 summer striata are much more broadly black-streaked, the olive 

 edgings worn to such narrowness that the black predominates ; 



