Vol. XXXI 

 1914 



J Taverner, New Subspecies of Dendragapus. 385 



A NEW SUBSPECIES OF DENDRAGAPUS, {DENDRAGA- 

 PUS OBSCURUS FLEMING!) FROM SOUTHERN 

 YUKON TERRITORY.! 



BY P. A. TAVERNER. 



In the examination of a collection of Dendragapus obscurus 

 recently acquired by the Canadian Geological Survey from the 

 Teslin Lake region, on the Yukon-British Columbia boundary, 

 it became evident that a new form of the species was probably 

 represented. Two subspecies have heretofore been recognized 

 as ranging into Canadian territory, D. o.fuliginosus and richardsoni. 

 Fuliginosus is a dark bird with a light tail band and richardsoni 

 a lighter one without a terminal band on the tail. The birds 

 under consideration are without the tail band but are even darker 

 than fidiginosus. 



We had a fair series of both recognized forms from southern 

 British Columbia, but all in spring and early summer plumage and 

 hence hardly comparable with the new form which is represented 

 entirely by late summer and autumn birds. The possibility existed 

 that the darkness of the new birds but represented the new and 

 unfaded plumage of the post-nuptial moult; therefore application 

 was made to the U. S. Biological Survey and its chief Dr. Henshaw 

 was courteous enough to place at our disposal what summer and 

 fall specimens there were in the collection of that institution. A 

 comparison of the specimens, including these, confirms our first 

 surmise as to the racial differentiation of the forms and I therefore 

 present the following new subspecies for consideration. 



Dendragapus obscurus flemingi new subspecies. 

 Fleming's Grouse. 



Named after Mr. J. H. Fleming, C M. Z. S. in recognition of the value 

 of his ornithological work in Canada. 



Subspecific Characters. Like Dendragapus obscwus richardsoni, with- 

 out terminal tail band, but darker in general coloration even than D. o. 

 fuliginosus. 



1 Published by permission of the Deputy Minister, Department of Mines. 



