126 Vol. XXIV 
A NEW SPARROW FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
By W. E. CLYDE TODD 
FEW years ago, in overhauling the birds of the genus Aimopiila in the 
A collection of the Carnegie Museum, I discovered that certain specimens 
‘of A. ruficeps from southern California were appreciably different from 
others coming from the region of San Francisco Bay (Nicasio, Marin County). 
The latter agree among themselves, and with a good series from various other 
localities in the state, from Sutter County on the north to Los Angeles County 
on the south, which I have examined in this connection. Ammodromus ruficeps 
of Cassin, described in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 
Philadelphia (vr, 1852, p. 184) came from the Calaveras River, near Stockton, 
‘alifornia, as we learn from the A. O. U. Check-List of North American Birds 
(ed. 3, 1910, p. 272). This series from central California agree well with the 
figure in Cassin’s Illustrations of the Birds of California (1854, pl. 20); but 
in order to make sure of the correct application of the name I forwarded exam- 
ples of both forms to Dr. Witmer Stone with a request to compare them with 
the type-specimen in the Philadelphia Academy. He writes as follows (Febru- 
ary 15, 1917): ‘‘The type of ‘Ammodromus’ ruficeps is like the Nicasio speci- 
men, 1. e., buffy instead of grayish below.’’ It therefore remains to provide the 
southern California race with a name, and I propose to eall it 
Aimophila ruficeps canescens, subsp. nov. 
Subspecific characters.—Similar to Aimophila ruficeps ruficeps (Cassin). 
but wing and tail longer and under parts less buffy, more grayish in tone. Sim- 
ilar also to Aimophila ruficeps sororia Ridgway, but darker above, and darker, 
more grayish, below. 
Type. no. 14.586, collection Carnegie Museum, adult male: San Diego. Cali- 
fornia; January 23, 1894: A. W. Anthony. 
MEASUREMENTS 
Aimonhila ruficeps ruficeps: 
No, Tioealitv Wine Tail Rill Tarang 
14589'2 Nicasio, Calif. BR 60 10 19 
4451822 Nicasio, Calif. BR 58 1a 5 195 
154292° 4 Berrvessa. Calif. 60 65 10.5 21 
2732342 Dunlan. Calif. 61 67 12 21 
2628542 Varain. Calif. 59 64 10.5 19.5 
290374 4 Claremont Creek. Calif. 58 61 12 20.5 
Kleven males, fide Ridgway 59 63.5 11.5 20 
Aimophila ruficeps canescens: 
14585'4 San Diego, Calif. 64 70 11 20 
14586'4 San Diego, Calif. 64 68 11 19.5 
14587'4 San Diego, Calif. 67 67 12 19 
Aimophila ruficeps sororia: 
71335'4 Sierra de Laguna, L. Calif. 60 63 12 21.5 
15941°4 Triunfo, L. Calif. 63 68 12 20.5 
15945°4 Triunfo, L. Calif. 60 60 12 20.5 
15946°4 Triunfo, L. Calif. 62 63 12 20.5 
47922°4 El Lanz, L. Calif. 63 64 12.5 21 
1Collection Carnegie Mus. 
Collection William Brewster. 
°Collection U. S. National Mus. 
*Collection Univ. Calif. Mus. Vert. Zool. 
*Collection Mus. Comparative Zool. 
