70 CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IX THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 



PASSERCULUS SANDWICHENSIS Gmel.) Baird. 



(36.) The Sandavich Sound Sparrow. 



On tlio Aleutian Islands this is a conimon siiinnipr resident, and thenco east and south along 

 the Alaskan shore it is also eoninion. It has not been recorded from the Seal Islands, hence its 

 northern range ai)i)ears to bo limited to this chain of islands and the adjoining coast as given. 

 During the migrations it is found along the coast iia far south as Oregon and Washington Terri- 

 tories, hut its breeding limit in this region is still unknown. Throughout the northern part of its 

 range it is known to breed, and we found it as late as October, ISSl, at Onnalaska, and it arrived 

 at this place the first of May, 1877. Some i)rot)ably remain the entire winter, but the majoritj' 

 pass farther south. Its habits are like those of its congeners, keeping to the grassy tiats and the 

 shore close along the water's edge, wliere a i)ortion of its food is gleaned. This also is one of the 

 several cases in whi<^h the Aleutian Islands and adjoining region furnish a stouter, longer billed 

 bird than is found in the closely allied forms of the maiidand. Among these may be named 

 Mrlnspiza cinerea. Leitcosticte (jrisienucha, and the Kodiak Aegiothii and Pinicola, in addition to the 

 case in hand, as showing some of the most striking instances of this peculiarity. 



PASSERCULUS SAND-WICHENSIS ALANDINUS (Bp.) Ridgw. 



(37.) The Western Savanna Sparrow. 



All along th<! coast of Bering Sea, at least to Point Hope and probably to Point Barrow, this 

 is a common bird, especially along the coast between the Alaskan Peninsula and Kotzebue Sound. 

 Wherever the open moist stretches of co!n[)aratively level country aftord suitable haunts, it is 

 found in large numbers. Although nnthinus has been recorded from Saint Michael's and the 

 Yukon region, it is owing to an erroneous identification, as is shown by an examination of the 

 specimens upon which this claim was based, all of which are referable to Alandinits. Anthinm is 

 strictly limited to the coast of California and is unknown to the north of this region. On the 

 contrary alandinns breeds far to the north, extending its breeding range inside the Arctic Circle, 

 and its southern range in summer does not appear to encroach on that of anthinus. In winter, 

 however, it is found passing south and mingling with its relatives in the coast region of California. 



ZONOTRICHIA GAMBELI INTERMEDIA Ridgw. 



(38.) The iNTERjnsDiATE White-crowned Sparrow. 



Along the Alaskan Coast, north of the Aliaskan Peninsula to Kotzebue Sound, the Wbite- 

 crowued Si)arrow is a rather common summer visitor and nests in many jilaces. It is one of the 

 most musical birds that reaches these high latitudes along the coast. With the opening spring 

 and appearance of the first flowers comes this handsome songster, whose charming notes and 

 familiar presence about the houses render it an agreeable accompaniment of spring. The last 

 of May, it appears in the vicinity of Saint Michael's, and, taking the wood pile or some other 

 convenient s])ot for its stage, sings at intervals during the entire day. Pleasant frosty mornings 

 particularly are enlivened by the notes of this bird, and I recall with pleasure the feeling of 

 exhilaration always produced by its song which seemed to form a i)art of the clear, fresh, frosty 

 atmosphere and the brightening face of nature. For a week or so after the bird's arrival its 

 familiar presence is joyfully i)roclaiined by notes from the places mentioned, after which it 

 quits the viciuity of man for the sheltering thickets on the hillside, where it i)erforms the duties 

 of the season. A few weeks later, during the last of July or the first of August, it is ready 

 to come about the houses again, a memory of the good things found there early in the season 

 serving to draw the bird from all sides. The weed patches and grassy knolls in the vicinity of the 

 Fort or the native village aie filled with these birds, and with their young they wax fat and saucy 

 ui)on the fare before them. The young frequently come into the court yard and make themselves 

 thoroughly at hoaie ; and, if the trutli be told, now and then one falls a victim to misplaced confi- 

 dence, and, in the shape of a dried mummy, travels to distant parts of the world, where, among a 

 host of his ilk, he x-eposes as a specimen. In autumn old and young alike have but the ordinary 



