358 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



5 8 Id. M. m. samuelis (Baird). SAMUELS SONG SPARROW. 1 



Like heermanni, but smaller, with slenderer 

 bil1 - Male ' length (skins) 4.99-5.90, wing- 2.21- 

 - - 



2 - 51 > tail 2.09-2.43, bill .43-.50. 



( kins ) 5.05-5.61, wing 2.21-2,38, tail 2.10-2.35, 



Distribution. Breeds in the coast region of California from Santa Cruz 

 to Humboldt County. 



58 le. M. m. morphna (Oberh.) RUSTY SONG 



Adults. Upper parts rusty olive, the rusty brown and black streaks 

 obscured ; chest widely marked with heavy 

 dark rufous streaks ; flanks olivaceous instead 

 of tawny. Young : back dark brown streaked 

 with blackish ; under parts whitish or buffy 

 grayish ; chest and sides buffy or brownish 



streaked with sooty brown. Male : length (skins) 5.69-6.46, wing 2.55- 

 2.81, tail 2.39-2.87, bill .47-.54. Female : length (skins) 5.58-6.19, wing 

 2.45-2.70, tail 2.28-2.67, bill .45-.S2. 



Distribution. Breeds in Canadian zone in the Pacific coast region from 

 southern Alaska to Oregon ; migrates to southern California. 



Nest. As described by Kobbe*, on horizontal branch of a small spruce, 

 about 5 feet from the ground, made of coarse grass stems lined with fine 

 grass. 



The rusty song sparrow is said to be an especially water-loving 

 subspecies, being found in swamps, brush patches along streams, 

 and coast waters. 



681f. M. m. rufina (Bonap.). SOOTY SONG SPARROW. S 



Like morphna, but decidedly larger (except bill), darker, and more uni- 

 form sooty rather than rusty ; back obsoletely streaked. Male : length 

 (skins) 5.85-6.85, wing 2.63-3.02, tail 2.60-2.90, bill .48-.50. Female: 

 length (skins) 5.50-6.00, wing 2.52-2.77, tail 2.30-2.76, bill .42-.50. 



Distribution. Southern Alaska ; in winter to coast of British Colum- 

 bia, Vancouver Island, and Olympic Mountains, Washington ; accidental in 

 California. 



581k. M. m. graminea (Towns.). SANTA BARBARA SONG SPARROW. 

 Similar to samuelis, but decidedly grayish above, the streaks both above 



1 Melospiza fasdata pusillula Ridgw. SALT MARSH SONG SPARROW. 



Like M. m. samuelis, but smaller, especially wings and tail ; less rusty above, super- 

 ciliary and under parts tinged with yellowish. 



Distribution. Salt marshes of San Francisco Bay. (The Auk, xvi. 35.) 

 Melospiza melodia cleonensis McGregor. MENDOCINO SONG SPARROW. 

 Size of samuelis, but lighter and more rusty. 

 Distribution. Coast of Mendocino County, California. (Butt. Cooper Orn. Club, 



2 Melospiza fasciata ingersolli McGregor. TEHAMA SONG SPARROW. 

 Similar to morphna, but darker and without rusty wash. 



Distribution. Northern Sacramento Valley, south in winter to San Francisco Bay. 

 [Bull. Cooper Orn. Club, i. 35.) 



3 Melospiza cinerea phsea Fisher. OREGON SONG SPARROW. 



Almost identical with rufina in color and markings, but between cleonensis and 

 morphna in size. 



Distribution. Immediate vicinity of coast from Rogue River to Yaquima, Oregon. 

 (The Condor, iv. 36.) 



