A NEW RACE OF THE WHITE-BREASTED 

 NUTHATCH FROM LOWER CALIFORNIA 



BY 

 JOSEPH GEINNELL 



(Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California) 



At the instance of Miss Annie M. Alexander, field work in the 

 interests of the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology was begun 

 early in 1925 in the San Pedro Martir region of Lower California, 

 and it has been under way with but slight interruptions up to the 

 close of the j^ear. Among the collections gathered is a series of 

 specimens of the resident form of the White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta 

 carolinensis) , and this form, hitherto undescribed, proves to be excep- 

 tionally well marked in its group and of decided interest in zoo- 

 geography. It is fitting that the name of the one who has made 

 possible this Museum's faunistic explorations in the San Pedro Martir 

 region should be commemorated in connection with its vertebrate 

 animal life ; and I have chosen the designation for the new nuthatch 

 accordingly. 



It should also be stated, here, that the Museum's field work in 

 Lower California has been expedited by the friendly attitude on the 

 part of both the local authorities of Lower California and the officials 

 of the Mexican Government in Mexico City and San Francisco. Dr. 

 Alphonso L. Herrera, Director de Estudios Biologicos, in particular, 

 has been most helpful. 



Sitta carolinensis alexandrae, new subspecies 



San Pedro Martir White-breasted Nuthateli 



Type localiiy. — Near Arroyo La Encantada, 7200 feet altitude, 

 three miles north of La Grulla, Sierra San Pedro IMartir, Lower Cali- 

 fornia, Mexico. Type, male adult in full fresh annual plumage; 

 no. 46464, Mus. Vert. Zool. ; October 10, 1925 ; collected by J. Grinnell, 

 orig. no. 6472. 



Diagnosis. — General features of size and coloration as in Sitta 

 carolinensis acuJeata (see Ridgway, 1904, pp. 440, 444-446), but 

 differs from this race in much longer wing, tail, and bill, in much 



