JUNCO CINEREUS VAR. CANICEPS. 145 



baljits it resembles liijcmalis ; its twitter is the same, but its song is ciiffcifnt. Of all tbo 

 varieties that are foutid in this region, this is the most constant in its markings. 

 Among scores of specimens, I never met vrith any that exhibited in any raarlcciil degree 

 the cliaracteristics of any of the other races combined with those of the Chestnnt- 

 backed species. 



J. annecleim. — Chestnut-sided Snow-bird. This race or species is supposed by some 

 ornithologists to be a hybrid between oregonus and canic.eps, a supposition showing the 

 danger of generalization on too narrow grounds, for there is nothing to support the 

 idea except the combination of certain characteristics belonging to those two races; 

 and on the same principle Colaptes chryamdes might be supposed to be a hybrid between 

 C. aiirntiis and U. mexicanus. The Chestnut-sided Snow-bird is as well marked, and 

 almost as constant in its coloration, as J. canicups, and far more so than oregonus, 

 hyemalis, or atlceni. It is common ouly in spring, associating with other varieties, and 

 remaining till April, being the last to leave of the migratory species. It ranges rather 

 higher than either the Oregon or the Black Snow-bird, occasionally extendiii}; as high 

 as 9,500 feet, or higher. In winter I have not noticed it, but am informed by Jlr. Aiken 

 that it is very abundant ou the plains from early in October till May, and that it out- 

 numbers caniceps and oregonus together — a singular fact, if it is a " hybrid." Undoubt- 

 edly it does occasionally mix with both these varieties, as specimens sometimes shoar 

 a tendency to one or other of them, usually toward the latter ; but I have never seen 

 any that I could not refer, without hesitation, to one or the other of thn^e species — 

 caniceps, annectens, or that which embraces hjjemalis, oregonus, and aikeni as sub- varieties. 



J. aikeni. — White- winged Snow-bird. Abundant; does not breed. This race is evi- 

 dently the most northern of the five, as it arrives latest (in November) and departs 

 earliest (in March), ranging higher also than any of the others, up to 10,000 feet, and 

 probably further still. In its notes and habits the White-winged Snow-bird ditfers 

 somewhat from its congeners. Its song is louden and sweeter ; it is less gregarious in 

 itsnatnre; and it frequents brushy hill-tops and mountain-sides, high up above the 

 valleys, and rarely visited by the other species during the winter. It is the ouly Snow- 

 bird at all common during winter, choosingasitsfavoritebaunts the bushy ravines ani 

 hollows, as well as the valleys of the larger streams, and wandering thence far up on 

 the mountains, associating in small parties only, more than six or eight being rarely 

 seen together. During the coldest weather, ouly the well-marked typical birds are- 

 seen, among which are both males and females, the former being most numerous ; but 

 toward the close of winter the females become more abundant, and among. a large- 

 series of specimens, obvious approaches to both hyemalis and oregonus may be distia-- 

 guished, especially toward the former. The iutergradatiou, however, is by no means- 

 as perfect as that between the two latter races, and a specimen that cannot be de- 

 cidedly referred to either aikeni or orcgonus-hyemalis is unusual. The white wing-bands 

 vary very much ; in the largest m.ales they are almost always broad and well-deiined ;. 

 in the small males and females they are narrower, sometimes almost obsolete, ocea-- 

 sionally wanting on one wing and present on the other, and sometimes wholly want- 

 ing or indicated by the faintest trace. In the latter case, the other characteristics of 

 the bird are those of hyenaialis, while the peculiar features of the latter bird or of ore- 

 gonus are never to be seen where the white wing-hands are well defined. Well-devel- 

 oped males frequently have white lores or white spots on the head and neck. 



■Without a very large number of specimens from different localities, it is diflSoult to 

 discuss, intelligently, the relations of these races or species; but from a careful study 

 of their habits, notes, distribution, and migration in this region, as welh as the com- 

 parison of a large number of specimens, I cannot help drawing the conclusion that at 

 least three, or perhaps four, of the various forms have, in' the words, of Dr. Cones, 

 " passed the merely varietal stage and become nascent species, though.still unstable in 

 character." These may be arranged as follows : 



I. Junco caniceps. Sp. ch. Interscapular region bright rufous. Breeds abundantly 

 in the mountains of Colorado, from 9,000 feet up to timber-line. • Retreats soutli. 

 of the Territory in winter. 

 II. J. annectens. Sp. ch. Sides clear cinnamon-fulvous. Abundant in Colorado during 



winter and spring, but breeds north of the Territory. 

 III. J. hyemalis. With tliree varieties : 



a. aikeni. Yar. ch. Two broad, well-defined white bands, on the wing-coverts. 



Abundant in winter, retiring north earlier than the other races, and 

 evidently the most northern in its distribution. Intergrades with the fol- 

 lowing form, though not as intimately as that does with the succeeding. 



b. hyemalis. Var. ch. No wing-bands; upper parts with no rufous, except a 



rusty tinge in autumn. Less abundant than the others, reaching here its 

 western limit ; breeding north of the Territory. Intergrades impercept- 

 ibly with the next. 



c. oregonus. Var. ch. Back and wings with a decided rusty-brown wash. 



Abundant, reaching here its eastern limit. Breeds northward, retiring 

 from Colorado with the preceding, or a little later. 



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