1S91] Bkewstrk. Descriptions of New Biids. 14 S 



coloring of the upper parts is essentially similar to that of richard- 

 sonii, but perhaps a trifle paler. The wings and tail are much 

 shorter or about as in vircns. The bill averages considerably 

 larger (both longer and broader) than in <i\\\\q^x vircns ox richard- 

 sonii. C. rlchardsonii is subject to a good deal of geographical 

 variation in respect to size, the birds in my series from the Sierra 

 Nevada and Rocky Mountain regions being much larger than 

 those from the coast of California and the Sierra Madrc of Mex- 

 ico. The wings and tail of the latter average scarcely, if at all, 

 longer than in C. peninsula:^ but their bills are rather smaller 

 than those of the Rocky Mountain and Sierra Nevada birds, in- 

 stead of being much larger, as is the case with pciunsulce. It 

 must be admitted that none of the difl'erences just enumerated 

 are perfectly constant, but with birds of the same sex and age 

 they sei"ve to distinguish fully ninety-five per cent of the large 

 series (over one hundred specimens) collected in Lower Califor- 

 nia by Mr. Frazar. 



Ammodramus henslowii occidentalis, new subspecies. 

 Western Henslow's Sparrow. 



SuBSPEC. CHAR. — -Similar to A. hensloxvii hwt the general coloring paler 

 above and whiter beneath, the back and scapulars with broader black 

 streaking and much less chestnut, the wings and tail grayer. 



Adult. (No. 25,959, collection of William Brewster, Moody County, 



Dakota, June 16, 1SS2 ; F. T. Jencks). — Top of head and nape pale grayish 

 olive ; forehead and crown with a broad stripe of black spots on each side ; 

 aind neck more finely and sparsely spotted; wing-coverts, scapulars, and 

 feathers of the back with coarse, central streaks of dull black bordered out- 

 vvanlly with a little pale chestnut, this shading quickly into grayish white 

 which forms a broad margin on all these feathers; wing-coverts, quills, 

 .ind tail-feathers faded brown, edged rather broadly with brownish white 

 and tinged with chestnut on the inner secondaries and towards the bases 

 of the rectrices; upper tail-coverts pale chestnut with narrow shaft streaks 

 of dark brown; under parts dull white with fine black spots and streaks on 

 the breast and sides and broader ones on the flanks, which are slightly tinged 

 with reddish brown; sides of head bufTy white with a little yellow above 

 the eye and two narrow, black, mandibular stripes, and one postocular, 

 on each side, besides an obscure black crescent or spot behind the auri- 

 culars ; shoulders tinged with greenish yellow, and bend of wing yellowish 

 white. 



Wing, 2.1S; tail, 1.95; tarsus, .69; bill, length from nostril, .31; depth 

 at nostril, .32 inch- 



