290 University of California Publications in Zoology [^ol. 24 



but with Ho new feathers as yet. A male shot August 2 shows the first 

 indication of the postnuptial molt. This is evident only in the flight 

 feathers, the first primary and the adjoining secondary of each wing 

 being partly grown out. No adults were taken at a later date. 



This species is one of the few that migrates coastward at the close 

 of the breeding season. There is probably a movement directly south- 

 ward east of the coast mountains also, but there is no doubt but that 

 there is a regular late-summer line of travel down the Stikine River 

 to the coast. The birds were noted traveling down stream, and the 

 arrival of the species at Sergief Island was in sufficient numbers to 

 warrant the movement being regarded as of regular annual occurrence. 

 Similar conditions have been noted in the late summer at the mouth of 

 the Taku River, another large stream flowing from the interior to the 

 coast, and emptying about one hundred and fifty miles north of the 

 mouth of the Stikine River (see Swarth, 1911, p. 99). There is no 

 information at hand regarding a return in the spring through the same 

 regions. 



Twenty specimens were collected (nos. 40174-40193), the series 

 comprising four adult males, seven adult females, six in juvenal 

 plumage, and three in first winter plumage. These were assembled 

 with other material in this Museum for comparison with the eastern 

 Dendroica c. coronata. Comparable material in, the two subspecies 

 comprised, of coronata, 14 adult (summer) males, 10 adult (summer) 

 females, 4 immature (first winter) ; of hooveri, 13 adult (summer) 

 males, 15 adult (summer) females, 11 immature (first winter). There 

 are also midwinter and juvenal specimens of hooveri, stages at which 

 there are no comparable specimens of coronata available. 



Judging from this material, the subspecies Dendroica c, hooven is 

 but faintly characterized. As claimed by the original describer 

 (McGregor, 1899, p. 32), hooveri averages slightly larger than coro- 

 nata (see table), but there is much overlapping in measurements. I, 

 myself, am unable to perceive most of the differences of color and 

 markings that have been said to characterize the two subspecies. 

 McGregor {loc. cit.) claimed differences in measurements only. Bis- 

 hop (1900a, p. 90) advanced certain color characters, found in a series 

 collected by himself in Alaska, notably in the summer plumage of the 

 adult male. He says: "Adult males average paler below than typical 

 D. coronata, the black markings being narrower, thus giving an effect 

 of broad longitudinal markings rather than black clouding on the 

 chest." This statement is endorsed by Grinnell (1909&, p. 235). 



