The Savanna Sparrows 



mediate in character towards alaudinus. Wherever this form occurs at 

 all it is apparently permanently resident." (Grinnell, 1915) 1 . 



"Bryant's Aiarsh Sparrow (Passerculus s. bryanti) is common on 

 the marshes around Humboldt Bay, its breeding habitat being supposedly 

 confined to tidal marshes. Yet a male of this form was taken on May 28 

 (1916) on Kneeland prairie on top of a range at an elevation of about 

 2800 feet and 18 miles from salt water. It appeared to be nesting but 

 neither nest nor mate was secured. This individual is indistinguishable 

 from specimens taken at same date on salt marsh near Eureka except that 

 the bill is more slender than any other obtained." (Mailliard, 1916) 2 . 



"Joseph Mailliard's note on the Bryant Marsh Sparrow in a recent 

 issue of The Condor suggests a solution to what has been a puzzling 

 problem to me for some time. I have found the Bryant Marsh Sparrow 

 breeding on the Islais Marsh, south of the Potrero district. But there are 

 other birds apparently of this species, averaging somewhat lighter, 

 however, found resident in the Presidio, on the Ingleside Golf Links, and 

 high up the slopes of Twin Peaks. I have noted them many times 

 during the breeding season at the two last named stations. Most of the 

 books speak of this sparrow as though it were found nowhere else than on 

 the salicornia marshes near sea level. It is my opinion that there is an 

 upland form of Passerculus sandwichensis bryanti which verges toward 

 P. s. alaudinus, and that it ranges from Humboldt County south at least 

 to the Transition area of San Francisco County. I may add that I 

 noted this same light-colored Bryant Marsh Sparrow last July on the 

 uplands of western Sonoma County some miles from the sea." (Squires) 3 . 



"The question is an interesting one, and there seems a great likelihood 

 that there really are two forms nearly alike but of different habits. 

 I have taken specimens of what I supposed was bryanti at different 

 times and places high up on hills and ranges, but, except for the one 

 mentioned in the notes from Humboldt Bay, have never taken any at 

 a high elevation in the height of the breeding season, although a few 

 were taken at dates very close to it. These latter were supposed to be 

 wanderers or non-breeders at the time, but recent events make me doubt 

 this conclusion. 



"In our collection is a set of eggs, taken by C. A. Allen, at that 

 time living at Nicasio, Marin County, California, the data of which are 

 as follows: 'Western Savannah Sparrow. Black Mt., Marin Co., Calif., 

 Apr. 29, 1877. Eggs fresh. Nest on ground. Male shot. Nest on 

 top of mountain.' This is not the exact wording of the data but is the 

 essence of it. We did not see the parent of this set, and have always 



1 Pacific Coast Avifauna, no. 11. by Joseph Grinnell (Oct. 21, 191.5). p. 114. 

 ■ Joseph Mailliard in The Condor, Vol. XVIII., Sept., 1916, p. 199. 

 3 W. A. Squires in The Condor. Vol. XVIII., Nov.. 1916, p. 228. 



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