V °g' X J Rhoads, Washington and British Columbia Birds. 21 



and good rules, it remains to name the British Columbia Crows either 

 americanus or caurinus according to size, and their intermediates hybrids, 

 or to class all under a common name. I accept the latter as the most 

 simple and reasonable alternative. 



The northeastern and northwestern forms of americanus may be charac- 

 terized as follows : 



Corvus americanus Aud. American Crow. — -Wing averaging more 

 than 12.35, tail averaging more than 7.40, culmen averaging more than 

 1.90, tarsus averaging more than 2.25 inches. Plumage black, glossed 

 with violet reflections; lower parts jet black, glossed like upper parts on 

 neck and breast, and fading into the plain black of belly. Larger and 

 more glossy; length 17.00-21.00, wing 1 1.90 -13.25 (12.36) , tail 6.90-8.00 

 (7.43), exposed culmen 1.80-2.05(1.92), tarsus 2.20-2.40(2.27)' inches. 

 Habitat: Eastern North America, except southern Florida. 



Corvus americanus caurinus (Baird). Northwest Crow. — Wing, 

 tail, culmen and tarsus measurements always (?) less than their average 

 measurements in americanus. Plumage black, with violet reflections, 

 rarely decided as in C. americanus. nor as constant on lower as on upper 

 parts. Violet of upper parts generally confined to the crown, scapu- 

 lars, quills, and wing-coverts, with hind neck and interscapular region 

 duller or lacking any gloss. Smaller and less glossy; wing 10.40-12. 4^ 

 (11.40), tail 6.12-7.60 (6.90), exposed culmen 1.55-1.80 (1.65), tarsus 

 1.80-2.25 (2.00) inches. Habitat: Northwestern North America west of 

 the Rocky Mountains. 



Melospiza lincolni. Lincoln's Sparrow. 



Melospiza lincolni striata. Forbush's Sparrow. — A comparison of 

 six specimens from Vancouver Island, five from the interior and four 

 from the mainland coast of British Columbia with two from Pennsylvania, 

 three from Mexico, two from Iowa, and one from Fort Simpson, may 

 be thus summarized: Vancouver Island specimens (including two from 

 Comox, the type locality) are not more "olivaceous" on superciliary stripe 

 than those of same season from any other locality. Black markings 

 on back not darker than in specimens from Orizaba, Fort Simpson, or 

 the interior of the British Columbia mainland, nor darker on throat than 

 skins from the interior. In all deference to its describer and the verdict 

 of our committee on nomenclature, I consider M. lincolni striata less 

 entitled to recognition than certain subspecies once included, but now 

 stricken from the Check-List. 



Vireo gilvus swainsonii. Western Warbling Vireo. — Warblin°- 

 Vireos from west of the Rocky Mountains have caused trouble ever since 

 Baird suggested their specific separation from V. gilvus under the name 

 Vireo swainsonii. Cones and Ridgvvay recognize them as a subspecies of 

 gilvus, the latter giving their habitat as west of the Rockies, but, as is well 

 known, the race finds no place in the A. O. U. Check-List. Swainson's 

 type came from the Columbia River, probably east of the Cascades, but 



1 These measurements of americanus are taken from Ridgvvay's 'Manual.' 



