1913 J Grinned: Calif ornian Species of Sorex 191 



NOTE ON THE PALUSTRINE FAUNAS OF WEST- 

 CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 



With the descriptions of the two shrews named in the present 

 paper, two more species are added to the list of the higher verte- 

 brate animals known to be restricted to the marshes of west- 

 central California. These palustrine forms are enumerated below 

 with salient facts as to relationships and distribution. 



Birds 



1. Geothlypis trichas sinuosa (Salt Marsh Yellowthroat). 



Inhabits the marshy borders of San Francisco Bay both around the 

 south arm and along the north side; occurs also locally away from salt 

 water, as at Lake Merced. Characterized by small size and dark colora- 

 tion. Nearest relative is G. t. occidentalis of the riparian and fresh-water 

 palustrine associations of central and northern California generally. 



2. Passercuhis sandwichensis bryanti (Bryant Marsh Sparrow). 

 Inhabits open salicornia flats on the salt marshes all around San 



Francisco Bay, and adjacent low-lying pastures; oeurs also on the sali- 

 cornia marshes back of Monterey Bay. Characterized by small size and 

 dark coloration. Nearest relatives are an unnamed form on the marshes 

 of Humboldt Ba}', P. s. nevadensis of the alkali sinks in the Great Basin 

 region, and P. beldingi of the coastal salt marshes of southern California. 



3. Melospiza melodia pusillula (Salt Marsh Song Sparrow). 



Inhabits exclusively the salicornia flats of the salt marshes bordering 

 the south arm of San Francisco Bay, from South San Francisco around to 

 West Berkeley. Characterized by small size, black streaking, grayish 

 "ground" color, and yellow suffusion beneath. Nearest relative, M. m. 

 santaeerucis of the fresh water riparian association of the uplands im- 

 mediately adjacent. 



4. Melospiza melodia samuelis (Samuels Song Sparrow). 



Inhabits exclusively the salicornia association of the salt marshes 

 on the north side of San Francisco Bay, from Larkspur to Vallejo. 

 Characterized by small size and dark coloration. Nearest relative, M. m. 

 gouldi of the fresh water riparian associations of the immediately adja- 

 cent uplands. 



5. Melospiza melodia maxillaris (Suisun Song Sparrow). 



Inhabits exclusively the marshes west of the confluence of the Sacra- 

 mento and San Joaquin rivers, centering in the Suisun Bay region; 

 occurs west to Benicia and Port Costa. Characterized by great size and 

 exceedingly dark coloration. Nearest relatives, M. m. mailliardi and 

 M. m. heermanni, of the San Joaquin Biver region east and south. 



