1 6+ 



Scott oh the Birds of Arizona. [April 



examination the •parkmanii' series (over 50 specimens) in the National 

 Museum. Unfortunately, however, the moist Northwest Coast region is 

 poorly represented in the series. But the material at hand setms to 

 indicate that three forms may be fairly well distinguished, as follows : 



1. T. aedon. The eastern form (^aedon proper) is apparently restricted 

 mainly to the Atlantic coast region, from Northern New England to 

 Florida. It is characterized by the dark heavy tone of its colors, the 

 brown of the dorsal region being dull umber brown, strongest or most 

 ferrugineous on the lower back and rump; back usually with faint darker 

 bars, sometimes strongly developed, occasionally obsolete. 



2. T. agdon parkmanii. The true parkmaniiis a Northwest Coast form, 

 typically represented in the coast region of Oregon and Washington Ter- 

 ritory, and less typically southward along the coast to Lower California. 

 Differs from true, aedon principally in the lighter or more tawny brown of 

 the upper parts. Light Atlantic coast birds are not certainly distinguish- 

 able from dark Pacific coast birds, though separated by not only the whole 

 breadth of the continent, but by a paler, easily recognized form occupying 

 the intermediate region. 



Audubon's "single specimen" of his " Troglodytes. Parkmanii'' was sent 

 to him"byDr. Tovvnsend, who procured it on the Columbia River" (Orn. 

 Biog. V, 1839, p. 310). This specimen, still extant in the National Muse- 

 um, is now before me. It is No. 66,644, '^'^^i bears what appears to be the 

 original label, probably in Dr. Townsend's hand-writing. It reads (lit- 

 erally transcribed) as follows: "Troglodytes Americana (Aud.)-Wood 

 Wren-(Audubon Biogr. Vol. II, pag. 452. Plate CLXXIX. Male, Colum- 

 bia River, June, 1S35." On the accompanying National Museum label is 

 written "Type of Troglodytes parkmanii, Aud. 'Columbia River,' J. K. 

 Townsend." It is practically identical in coloration with Fort Steilacoom 

 specimens (Nos. 7135-7137), and others from Northern California. 



3. T. aedon aztecus. Lighter (more ashy) and paler throughout than 

 even true parkmanii., the brown of the upper parts especially being lighter, 

 and the anterior half of the dorsal surface decidedly ashy instead of browm, 

 contrasting strongly with the rest of the dorsal surface. Dark and light 

 barring of the back rather stronger and more constant than in either of 

 the other two forms. Rather smaller, with smaller bill. Reaches its 

 extreme phase of pale colors and small size in Arizona and the Rio Grande 

 border of Texas. Its habitat may include, however, the whole arid interior. 

 The specimens from the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys are also referable 

 to it rather than to aedon proper. 



The small, pale Arizona and Rio Grande birds seem to correspond 

 exactly with Baird'svar. aztecus (Kev. Am. Bds., 1864, p. 139), from Eastern 

 Mexico, which has been of late commonly referred to ^parkmanii.' 



At all localities there is a wide range of individual variation, particularly 

 in general size, and in the size of the bill; also more or less in coloration, 

 especially in the barring of the plumage, both above and below. Young 

 and autumnal birds are also browner and darker than birds taken in the 

 breeding season. This somewhat masks the variation characteristic of 



