The Fox Sparrows 



No. 65a Alberta Fox Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 585a, part. Passerella iliaca altivagans Riley. 



Description. — Similar to P. i. iliaca, but darker and duller, the pattern of the 

 upper plumage almost completely blended; hence, upper tail-coverts and exposed 

 surfaces of folded tail and wings russet; remaining upperparts, including pileum and 

 sides of neck, mingled olive-brown and slaty; spotting of underparts and streaking 

 of sides broader, more copious (invading lower throat), and darker, sepia. Mandible 

 yellow, darkening on tip. Measurements: wing 81 (3.19); tail 76 (2.99); bill 10.6 

 (.42); depth of bill 9.4 (.37); width 7.9 (.31); tarsus 23.1 (.91). 



Range of P. i. altivagans. — Breeding in central Alberta in an ill-defined area 

 lying between the range of iliaca upon the northeast and schistacea upon the west and 

 south. 



Occurrence in California. — "Rare winter visitant to the northeastern section 

 of the State, casually south to Los Angeles County." — (Grinnell). 



Authorities. — Riley, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., vol. xxiv., 191 1, p. 235 (orig. 

 desc, type locality Moose Branch of Smoky R., Alberta; spec, from Fort Crook, 

 Shasta Co., Calif.) ; Swarth, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. xxi., 1920, p. 119, figs, (occur- 

 rence in Calif., distr., desc, crit.). 



No. 65b Shumagin Fox Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 585a. Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis (Gmelin). 



Description. — Somewhat similar to P. i. iliaca, but much darker and pattern 

 completely blended; spotting of underparts much heavier and darker, brown. In 

 particular: Upperparts, including pileum, sides of neck, and sides of breast, olive- 

 brown, becoming more rufescent, cinnamon-brown on upper tail-coverts and exposed 

 upper surfaces of wings and tail; underparts white, heavily and broadly streaked with 

 dark brown (Prout's brown or mummy-brown to sepia). The spots invade the chin, 

 but are sparse upon chin, lower throat, and abdomen. Measurements: wing 83.6 

 (3.29); tail 76.2 (3.00); culmen 12 (.47); depth 10 (.39); width 8.7 (.34); tarsus 25.2 

 (•99)- 



Range of P. i. unalaschcensis. — Breeding in the Alaska peninsula, Unalaska, 

 and the Shumagin Islands; south in winter through western California to San Diego 

 County. 



Distribution in California. — Imperfectly determined, but occurs in winter 

 in widely scattered localities west of the Sierras, chiefly southerly. 



Authorities. — Osgood, N. Am. Fauna, no. 24, 1904, p. 76 (crit.; unalaschcensis 

 and iliaca regarded as specifically distinct); Swarth, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. xxi., 

 1920, p. 127, figs, (occurrence in Calif., distr., desc, crit.). 



No. 65c Kadiak Fox Sparrow 



A. O. U. No. 585f, part. Passerella iliaca insularis Ridgway. 



Description. — Similar to P. i. unalaschcensis, but slightly darker and more 

 rufescent throughout, and with heavier spotting below. Size scarcely different. 



Range of P. i. insularis. — Breeding range central upon Kadiak Islands (line of 

 demarcation from sinuosa upon the north undefined); wintering south to southern 

 California. 



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