186 OBERHOLSER o7 a New Marsh Wren. Ann 
September, not rare, in fact rather common. Blood’s (Calaveras 
Co.), July 16, 1880, shot an adult female which probably had a 
nest; specimen sent to the Smithsonian Institution.” ! 
Dr. A. K. Fisher in his report on the birds of the Death Valley 
expedition,” says of this species: ‘“ Mr. Nelson saw a fine adult 
male Pine Grosbeak in brilliant plumage on the head of the San 
Joaquin River, July 30 (1891). ‘This individual was the only one 
seen during the year.” 
I have described this form as a subspecies somewhat in opposi- 
tion to the canons of the American Ornithologists’ Union, for I 
have seen no examples of intergradation. However, these may 
be expected from the higher mountains northward, the Sierra form 
being the most southern representative of the genus. 
Unlike the Pine Grosbeaks living in the far north, these birds 
probably find it unnecessary to migrate any great distance in 
winter. If the weather is too severe on the alpine summits, they 
can in a moment drop down into the deep canons which furrow 
the western flank of the Sierra, and find a temperate climate and 
abundance of food. 
CRITICAL REMARKS ON C/STOTHORUS PALUSTRIS 
(WILS.) AND ITS WESTERN ALLIES. 
BY HARRY C. OBERHOLSER. 
Tue typical form of Cistothorus palustris habits the greater 
portion of the eastern United States and southern British America, 
west to at least Kansas and Manitoba. Upon the Pacific Coast 
it is replaced by Cistothorus p. paludicola of Baird ; while the birds 
1 Land Birds of the Pacific District, by Lyman Belding. Occasional Papers 
of the Calif. Acad. of Sciences, II, 1890, p. 131. 
2North American Fauna, No. 7, Pt. II, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washing- 
ton, 1893, p- 79. 
