166 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



185. Melospiza fasciata guttata (Nutt.) RUSTY SONG 

 SPARROW. 



Henshaw, 1879. Variety guttata is characterized by a 

 darker more rufescent type of color; the streaks on the 

 dorsura are very indistinct, in some almost wanting. 

 The typical home of this variety is the Columbia River 

 region, coastwise, but long before reaching that point evi- 

 dence is afforded by specimens of intermediate character 

 of the changes to appear farther north. Variety rufina is 

 simply guttata with the tendencies of the latter carried 

 a step or two farther, with increase of latitude. The 

 rufous of guttata in extreme cases becomes a reddish 

 sepia brown; the size is somewhat larger, the bill rather 

 more slender. This is rufina as found about Sitka and 

 southward. Upon certain of the Alaskan Islands oc- 

 curs insignis. 



British Columbia. John Fannin. Abundant resi- 

 dent. 



Cooper, 1860. This species " Melospiza rufina " is a 

 constant resident in the wild western portions of the 

 Territory never ranging far from the thicket which con- 

 tains its nest, or the house where it has found food and 

 protection. 



Suckley, 1860. Quite a common bird in the vicinity 

 of Puget Sound, where it is a resident throughout the 

 year. 



Willamette Valley. 0. B. Johnson. Plentiful per- 

 manent resident. 



Camp Harney. Bendire. In December, 1875, I took 

 two specimens, perhaps the true guttata. 



West Humboldt Mountains. Ridgway. Specimen, 

 October 3. 



Gridley. L. B. September 23, 1885, first; Septem- 

 ber 30, common; these were what I consider interme- 

 diate specimens, resembling the song sparrow that- 



