1920] SwartJi: Revision of Avian Genus Passerella 127 



Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis (Gmelin) 

 Shumagin Fox Sparrow 



Original description. — Emheriza unalaschcensis Gmelin, 1788, p. 875. Based 

 on "Unalashka Bunting. Arct. zool. 2. p. 364. n. 232. Lath. syn. II. 1. p. 202. 

 n. 48. Habitat in Uualaschca. ..." 



Type specimen. — Not known to be in existence. 



Range. — In summer, the Alaska Peninsula, Shumagin Islands, and 

 Unalaska Island; in winter, south at least to extreme southern Cali- 

 fornia. 



Specimens examined. — 83 (see list, pp. 186-187). 



Distinguishing characters. — Of the Unalaschcensis group (see p. 

 89). "Within this group, of relatively large size, with large bill, and 

 with the minimum of red or brown coloration seen in this section of 

 Passerella; and thus easily distinguished from fuUginosa, townsendi 

 or annectens. Compared with sinuosa, unalaschcensis (in both types 

 of color and bill structure [see postea] ) is even less reddish, and with 

 larger bill. Of about the same size as insularis, but with differently 

 shaped bill, and of duller coloration. 



Remarks. — Unalaschcensis is apparently of rather rare occurrence 

 in most parts of California, to judge from the few specimens con- 

 tained in collections. The series of breeding birds at hand also is 

 unsatisfactory, in that but few localities are represented within the 

 probable summer habitat. The variety of characters represented in 

 birds in the winter series is such as to raise questions regarding their 

 proper classification; questions that can not be answered prior to 

 the accumulation of much more information about the summer home 

 of the subspecies, and some additional material from various points 

 therein. 



California winter birds may be divided into two categories, one 

 comprising birds of pale brownish coloration, rather ashy in general 

 tone, and with long pointed bill ; the other, birds decidedl}^ darker in 

 appearance, rather plumbeous in tone, and with short, heavj' bill. 

 Extremes of these two types are as widely different as any two recog- 

 nized subspecies within the Unalaschcensis group. They are here 

 lumped under unalaschcens'is, first, because of intergradation which 

 links them so closely as to indicate nearer relationship between the 

 two than to anj- other race, as seems to be shown by the winter speci- 

 mens, and second, because of the present impossibility of a satisfactory 

 understanding of conditions in the summer habitat. 



Emheriza unalaschcensis Gmelin (1788, p. 875) was based upon 

 the Aoonalashka Bunting of Latham (1782, p. 202), and the Unalashka 

 Bunting of Pennant (1785, p. 364). Ridgway (1901, p. 389, footnote) 



