The Song Sparrows 



corresponding withdrawal of sunlight. Yet the wonder is that the Men- 

 docino-Humboldt birds are not darker, for the magnificent forests of 

 redwood, whose trees number their rings by centuries, ' are a living witness 

 that the region has long been one of excessive rainfall. Perhaps, after all, 

 Melospiza melodia is not such a "plastic" form as we had supposed. At 

 any rate, we get here a vivid conception of the enormous stretches of time 

 at Nature's disposal, and some idea of her patience. If a thousand years 

 (at the least) are required to alter a shade so slightly that its recognition 

 is still debatable, how many millenniums must have elapsed since the 

 "Sooty" Song Sparrow (M. m. rufina) began to occupy the coast of Alaska ! 



No. 62e Marin Song Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 58id, part. Melospiza melodia gouldi Baird. 



Description. — Similar to M. m. cleonensis, but less rufescent, the black element 

 much stronger on feathers of back, scapulars, and exposed quills, that of pileum taking 

 form of streaks alternating with browns; the streaking of underparts also more de- 

 cided!}' black, often scarcely rufescent on edges. 



Range (Wholly within California). — Common resident on fresh-water marshes 

 and streams immediately to the north of San Francisco Bay, chiefly in Marin and 

 Sonoma counties; north coastwise to Gualala, Mendocino County, interiorly to Mt. 

 Sanhedrin, Cahto, and Ukiah, east to Vacaville and Rumsey (Yolo County) (Grin- 

 nell). 



Authorities. — Baird, Pac. R. R. Rep., vol.ix., 1858, p.479(orig. desc. ; "Califor- 

 nia") ; Grinnell, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. v., 1909, p. 267 (desc; crit.). 



No. 62f Samuel's Song Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. s8id, part. Melospiza melodia samuelis (Baird). 



Description. — Similar to M. m. gouldi, but black element still further strength- 

 ened throughout, the streaking of breast, sides, etc., usually without trace of other 

 color. 



Range (Wholly within California). — "Abundant resident on salt marshes 

 along the north side of San Francisco Bay, from Larkspur, Marin County, through 

 Sonoma and Napa Counties to Vallejo, Solano County; also on south side of San 

 Pablo Bay, at Selby and Pinole, Contra Costa County." — Grinnell. 



Authorities. — Baird {Ammodromus samuelis), Proc. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. vi., 

 1858, p. 379 (orig. desc. ; Petaluma) ; McGregor, Bull. Cooper Orn. Club, vol. i, 1899, p. 87 

 (crit.) ; Grinnell, Condor, vol. iii., 1901, p. 92 (crit.) ; Beat, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. 

 Surv. Bull., no. 34, 1910, p. 84, part (food). 



'"Very long-lived but greatest age undetermined. * * * A tree 20 feet in diameter and 350 feet high 

 showed an age of 1000 years. Another tree 20 feet in diameter was 1373 years old." — Sudworth, Forest Trees of the 

 Pacific Slope, p. 146. 



348 



