128 PASSERCXJLUS SAVANNA, SAVANNA SPABEOW. 



Passereulus savanna var. alaudinus, B. B. & E., N. A. B. 1874, pi. 24, f. 11. 



Ammodromus savanna, Gkay, Genera of Birds. 



Passei-ouhis alaudinus, Bp., Comp. Eond. xxsvii, 1853, 918 (California).— Bd.,'B. N. A. 

 1858, 446.— Hbbem., P. E. E. Eep. ix, 1859, 49.— CouES, Pr. Pbila. Acad. 1861, 

 223 (Labrador); 1866, 84 (Arizona).- Codes, Ibis, 1866, 268.— Coues, Pr. Ess. 

 . Inst. V, 1868, 281.— Dress., Ibis, 1865, 487.— Elliot, B. N. A. pi. 13.— Dall & 

 Bann., Tr. Cbic. Acad. 1869, i, 284 (Alaska).- Stbv., U. S. Geol. Surv. Ter. 870, 

 464.— Merk., U. S. Geol. Surv. Ter. 1872, 679.— Sumich., Mom. Best. Soo. i, 

 1869, 552 (Vera Cruz).— Coop., B. Cal. i, 1870, 181.— Scl., P. Z. S. 1858, 303 

 (Oaxaca). 



Zonotrichia alaudina, FixscH, Abh. Nat. iii, 1872, 51 (Alaska). 



b. anthinus. 



(Slender-billed, -with, numerous small sharp dark spots below. Marshes, Pacific coast.) 



Passereulus anthinus, Bp., Comp. Eend. xxxvii, 1853, 919.— Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 445.— Scl,, 



Cal. A. B. 1862, 112.— CouES, Ibis, 1860, 268.— (?) Dall & Bank., Tr. Chic. Acad. 



i, 1869, 284 (rather "(iZaM*»«s").-Coop., B. Cal. i, 187, 183.— Elliot, B. N. 



A. pi. 13. 

 Passereulus savanna var. anthinus, CouBS, Key, 1872, 136. — B. B. & E., N. A. B. i, 1874, 



539, pi. 24, f. 10. 



c. sandvicensis. 



(Large northern coast form.) 



Emberiza sandu-iehensis, Gm., Syst. Nat. i, 1788, 875. 



Passereulus sandwichensis, Be, B. N. A. 1858, 444. — Coop. & SuCK., N. H. Wash. Ter. 



1860, 199, pi. 28, f. 2.— Dall & Bann., Tr. Chic. Acad, i, 1869, 284.— Coop., B. 



Cal. 1, 1870, 180. 

 Passereulus savanna var. sandvieensis, Coues, Kev, 1872, 136. — B. B. & E., N. A. B. i, 



1874, 538, pi. 24, f. 9. 

 Emheriza aretiea. Lath., lod. Orn. i, 1790, 414. 



Fringilla aretiea, ViG., Voy. Blossom, 1839, 20. — Brandt, Ic. Eoss. ii, 6. 

 Euspiza aretiea, Bp., Consp. i, 1850, 469. 

 Zonotrichia aretiea, Finsch, Abh. Nat. iii, 1872, 46 (Alaska). 

 Eniberiza ehrysops, Pall., Zoog. E. A. li, 1811, 45, pi. 48, fig. 1 (Oonalashka). 



fla6.— North America, at large. Migratory. Breeds from the Middle States north- 

 Tvard (to Labrador at least and to the Yukon), and in mountainous parts of the United 

 States elsewhere. Winters from the Middle States southward. Mexico. Cuba (Cab., 

 J. f. 0. iv, 1856, 6). 



Lieutenant Warren's Expedition. — 4807, Vermilion River; 4808, Big Sioux Elver ; 8786, // 

 North Fork of the Platte; 8756-57, 8768, Black Hills. 

 Later Expeditions.— 598^8-89, Colorado ; 60407, 60863-67, Wyoming ; 62310, Idaho. , _;„ ', 



Not obtained by Captain Eaynolds' Expedition. 6 '-' v- 1 



The characteristics of our Passereuli, too hastily, it appears, assumed to indicate sev- "jj^i. - 

 eral distinct species, will be found more or less fully discussed by some of the authors ' .,4- 

 above cited. My present view, as stated in the Key, is that " atoitZimts " is entirely ■ 

 indistinguishable, but that anthinus and sandvicensis represent local varieties that it is 0)r ' '-. 

 usually possible to recognize. We might, perhaps, indicate by the name of " alau- 

 dinus" the pale race of the dry middle region, but for the fact that its original describer 

 indicates it as being from " California." 



Savanna Sparrows are extremely abundant in the Missouri region, 

 especially during the migrations. They remain during the winter in 

 the milder portions, and breed in the northern portions as well as be- 

 yond, in the region just north of the Coteau. This may be toward the 

 southern limit of their breeding range. They are found during the 

 breeding season both in the valleys of the rivers and out on the high 

 prairie, where they associate intimately with Baird's and the Chestnut- 

 collared Buntings, forming a part of the small prairie avifauna. Their 

 habits and general appearance are so similar to those of Baird's Bunt- 

 ing that the two species are only distinguished with some difQculty at 

 gun-shot range. The nuptial song is sweet and simple; at other seasons 

 they have only a weak chirp. The nest is placed on the ground, in all 

 the instances that have come under my observation, and closely resem- 

 bles that of the Bay-winged Bunting, excepting that in the specimens 



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