1911] Swarth: Alaska Expedition of 1909. 89 



Although J unco oreganus is generally considered to be a 

 race of J. hyemalis, and the trinomial used to designate it, I 

 have seen no conclusive evidence in support of this view, while 

 there is much to be said against it. Hyemalis ranges, without 

 perceptible change, from the Atlantic coast to the interior of 

 Alaska, to within a comparatively short distance of the Pacific 

 coast, where it is abruptly replaced by oreganus. There is no 

 blending of characters where the ranges of the two species meet 

 — the criterion usually accepted as the test of a subspecies. 

 Alaskan examples of hyemalis are indistinguishable from those 

 taken in eastern North America ; neither can the races or species 

 of juncos occupying intermediate regions farther south be said 

 to illustrate intergradation. Occasionally individuals are met 

 with combining the characters of hyemalis and oreganus (such 

 as the specimen no. 9619 described in this paper under 

 /. hyemalis) ; but I am inclined to accept Ridgway's view 

 (1901, p. 276), and to consider such birds as hybrids. 



Melospiza melodia rufina (Bonaparte). Sooty Song Sparrow. 



When I arrived in Alaska, early in April, there were no song 

 sparrows to be seen anywhere, and it seems evident that rufina 

 does not remain through the winter in the northern part, at 

 least, of its breeding range. It was first seen at Three-mile Arm, 

 Kuiu Island, on April 30, when two specimens were secured, and 

 from then on it was observed, though usually in small numbers, 

 at almost every point visited. By the third week in ]\Iay they 

 had begun to pair off ; and the female of a pair secured on Duke 

 Island, June 8, was evidently incubating, as were others secured 

 on the Chickamin River, June 17 to 28. At Portage Cove, 

 Revillagigedo Island, a nest containing four eggs was found 

 on June 28, built in tall meadow grass about a foot above the 

 ground. The first young were seen at Etolin Island, on July 6, 

 and specimens in juvenal plumage were secured at various points 

 up to as late a date as September 4. 



One taken at Port Snettisham on August 28 (no. 9698) has 

 almost completely acquired the first winter plumage, and others 

 obtained on the Taku River during September are in this plum- 

 age throughout. An adult female shot at Thomas Bay on 



