1924] Swarth: Birds and Mammals of the Skeena Biver Region 351 



Calcarius ornatus (J. K. Townsend). Chestnut-collared Longspuf 



An adnlt female (no. 42272) in worn summer plumage collected in 

 Kispiox Valley, July 8. I do not believe that this bird was breeding' 

 at the point where it was taken ; it was most likely a wanderer that 

 had strayed far from the breeding grounds. This is an even more 

 extraordinary occurrence than the capture of the Smith longspur six 

 weeks later at the same place. The latter species is known to breed 

 to the northeast of this region, and a slight deflection to the westward 

 by a south-bound migrant would account for the .stray we collected. 

 The chestnut -collared longspur, however, is not known to breed nearly 

 so far north as this in the interior; presumably it required a long 

 flight to the northwest to bring this bird to the place where it was 

 found. I believe that this is the first recorded occurrence of the species 

 in British Columbia. 



Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus Bonaparte. 

 Western Savannah Sparrow 



There were a few Savannah sparrows migrating through Hazelton 

 during the last week in May. In Kispiox "\''alley a little later small 

 numbers were breeding in hay fields and pastures. In the open 

 country at the summit of Nine-mile Mountain (5000 to 5500 feet 

 altitude) the species was breeding in fair abundance. In Kispiox 

 Valley again, the third week in August, there was an influx of 

 migrating Savannah sparrows; they came in swarms, reaching the 

 maximum of abundance about the middle of September. Some were 

 seen up to the day T left, September 26. 



Nineteen specimens collected (nos. 42273-42290, 42410) : at Hazel- 

 ton, May 30, two, adult male and female ; Kispiox Valley, adult female, 

 July 9; Juvenal male, July 12: two adult females, four immature 

 females, three immature males, August 24 to September 10 ; Nine-mile 

 Mountain, July 23 to 29, three adult males, three adult females. The 

 Nine-mile Mountain specimens are alaudinus ; they are exactly like 

 Savannah sparrows from more northern points in the interior of 

 British Columbia and Alaska. The status of the Savannah sparrow 

 breeding in the lowlands of the region cannot be settled at this time. 

 The one adult collected that was actually breeding (no. 42275, female, 

 Kispiox Valley, July 9), is of small size and Avith short, stubby bill. 

 The two shot at Hazelton on May 30 were not breeding ; they may or 



