1911] Swarth: Alaska Expedition of 1909. 87 



Spizella monticola ochracea Brewster. Western Tree Sparrow. 



Hasselborg reported tree sparrows as abundant along the 

 Taku river on October 20, and again at Game Cove, Admiralty 

 Island, on November 8. No specimens were secured, but as he is 

 familiar with the species, I have no hesitation in accepting his 

 statement. 



Junco hyemalis hyemalis (Linnaeus). Slate-colored Junco. 



On September 4, on the Taku River, one specimen was 

 secured, which was in company M'ith another, apparently of the 

 same species. On several subsequent occasions during September 

 I saw what I supposed were examples of slate-colored juncos, in 

 flocks of oreganus, but failed to get any. The single specimen 

 obtained (no. 9620) is an immature male, in first winter 

 plumage, and is typical of the species, but with the gray of the 

 back somewhat overcast with brownish, as is usually the case 

 with young birds. This bird, in common with the small series 

 at hand from Prince William Sound, is remarkable in that the 

 outer tail feather only, is pure white. The next has about the 

 terminal third of the outer vane black, and the third has no 

 white on it at all. Specimens of hyemalis at hand from the 

 interior of Alaska and from the eastern United States all have 

 more or less white on the three outer rectrices. 



A junco taken on the Taku River on September 12 (no. 9619) 

 is, I believe, a hybrid between hyemalis and oreganus. It is an 

 adult male, in its second year at least, as was apparent from 

 the condition of the skull, and is in fresh, winter plumage. In 

 general it may be said to be like oreganus above, and like 

 hyemalis below. The brown of the dorsum is sharply defined 

 against the head, but is of a darker shade than is ever the case 

 in oreganus, being between mummy and prout brown, while the 

 feathers of the back are only brown-tipped, being black basally. 

 The outline of the black throat is convex against the white of 

 the lower surface, but the sides and flanks are slaty, with but a 

 slight tinge of vinaceous. 



