1 88 OiiKRHOLSER 071 ft Nezv ATdrsJi Wren. \\nx\\ 



sometimes covers all but a narrow lateral stripe of normally black, 

 occasionally clove brown, but is sometimes almost absent, being 

 restricted to the central portion of the forehead, the remainder of 

 the pileum being in such case solid black. That this variation is 

 not due to sex may at once be seen by reference to the specimens ; 

 and that it is not due to season is equally apparent, since among 

 birds taken in the fall as well as in the spring both these extremes 

 of coloration exist. That a change from brown to black is not 

 produced by the wearing away of the tips of the feathers, as 

 suggested by Dr. Sharpe ^ in connection with Cistothorus p. pahi- 

 (licola^ is conclusively proved by the fact that many of the birds 

 with most black upon the head are those in freshly molted spring 

 and fall plumages, while a July specimen in worn plumage has 

 the central part of the pileum brown in marked contrast to the 

 black of the lateral portions. These facts seem to indicate that 

 the differences noted are, as mentioned by Dr. Coues,- not 

 correlated with any age, sex, or season, but are the result of 

 purely individual variation. 



It has for various reasons been deemed advisable to here include 

 a reasonably complete synonymy of the two western forms ; and 

 the present writer is responsible for the correct citation of all 

 references. 



The type of Professor Baird's Cistothorus pahistris vax. paludicola 

 came from Shoalwater Bay, Washington, and is still in the 

 National Museum. Examination shows it to represent the dark 

 Pacific Coast race, for which the name therefore becomes available. 

 No other specific or subspecific designations appear to have been 

 bestowed upon either of the western forms, and the bird from the 

 interior being thus without a name, may be called 



Cistothorus palustris plesius, subsp. nov. 



Tyoglodytcs faliis/ris Gambel, Pioc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. Ill, 1846, 

 113; Newberry, U. S. P. R. R. Rep. VI, 1857, Zool. 80 (part); Swains. 

 & Rich. Fauna Bor.-Amer. II, 1831, 319 (part); Henry, Pioc. Acad. Nat. 

 Sci. Phila. VII, 1855, 309. 



'Cat. Birds in Brit. Mus., VI, 1881, 243. 

 - Birds of Colorado Valley, 1878, 179. 



