The Savanna Sparrows 



ward probably deserves 

 separate recognition, al- 

 though it is not easily 

 distinguishable in ap- 

 pearance from P. s. bry- 

 anti. This undescribed 

 form probably retires to 

 the southward in winter; 

 and its occasional ap- 

 pearance in the San 

 Diegan district has 

 provoked discussion of 

 possible relationship 

 with beldingi. Bryanti, 

 a darker form than 

 alaudinus, is believed to 

 be sedentary in the 

 marshes bordering upon 

 San Francisco, ' 

 Monterey, and 

 Humboldt bays. Its 

 occurrence further south 

 is conjectural. Beldingi is a well-marked form which, so far, appears to 

 be strictly sedentary in the coastal marshes from Santa Barbara to San 

 Diego and San Quentin Bay. Of the rostratus group, variously resident 

 or resident-in-summer in Lower California, rostratus proper, and, possibly, 

 P. r. guttatus, comes north to winter. The differentiated values of ros- 

 tratus and beldingi are as clear-cut as those of princeps; and their tenure 

 of the land is presumably as ancient. But as among specimens of sand- 

 wichensis, whether from Nevada, Chihuahua, Quebec, Vancouver Island, 

 or the Klondike, there is no certain decision, save through appeal to an 

 extended series of skins in one of the larger museums. In this group of 

 narrow distinction and broad distribution there seems to be, in like 

 manner, no definable difference in song and none in habit, save as enforced 

 by local conditions. It is idle, therefore, to try to impress upon the 

 popular attention the distinctions alleged within this group. 



Not every bird can be a beauty any more than every soldier can be a 

 colonel; and when we consider that ten times as many shot-guns are in 

 commission in time of peace as rifles in time of war, we cannot blame a 

 bird for rejoicing in the virtue of humility, envying neither the epaulets 

 of General Blackbird nor even the pale chevrons of Sergeant Siskin. A 

 Savanna Sparrow, especially the washed-out western variety, is a mere 



WESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW 



251 



