120 THE CONDOR Vol. XXI 
Remarks.—This new subspecies differs from Junco oreganus thurberi in 
its much less blackish head and throat, which, in the adult male, are slate color 
instead of black; much less extensively rufescent brown of the back; paler and 
less extensively buff (more pinkish) sides and flanks. It thus presents a very 
interesting combination of the characters of Jwnco oreganus thurberit and Junco 
oreganus townsendr. It has the very pale pinkish sides of Junco oreganus 
townsendi, but in the color of both head and back is almost exactly intermedi- 
ate between these two races. This is further shown by its individual variation 
which, as in all forms of the Juncos, is considerable. In one specimen (no. 
196962, U.S. Nat. Mus.) the head is blackish, approaching the color of the same 
part in Junco oreganus thurbert, though the throat is a little darker than in the 
other examples from the Hanson Laguna Mountains. The color of the back in 
{wo other individuals (nos. 196963 and 196965, U. S. Nat. Mus.) can be almost 
exactly matched in specimens of Junco oreganus townsendi, although the head 
and throat are seen to be more deeply colored. The birds from the Hanson 
Laguna Mountains are clearly intermediate between Junco oreganus thurbert 
and Junco oreganus townsendi, but present sufficient characters of their own, 
particularly in view of their isolated breeding range, to warrant their separa- 
tion as a distinct subspecies. 
The discovery of the intermediate character of these specimens from the 
Hanson Laguna Mountains is of considerable interest in view of the recent 
opinion of Dr. Jonathan Dwight (Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., xxxvim, June 1, 
1918, pp. 296-297) that Junco townsendi is a subspecies of Junco mearnst. The 
study of these specimens and their relationships with the two contiguous forms 
shows clearly that Junco oreganus pontilis directly connects Junco townsendi 
with Junco oreganus thurbert, and that, therefore, the former must be a sub- 
species of the latter. 
The present race is probably confined to the Hanson Laguna Mountains, 
since the birds from the San Jacinto Mountains appear to be typical of Junco 
oreganus thurber. : 
In this connection it is of interest to recall the fact that many of the spe- 
cies and subspecies of the genus Junco, in addition to the one here described, 
occupy very restricted geographical areas during the breeding season. Con- 
spicuous among these forms might be mentioned Junco bairdi, Junco aikeni, 
Junco insularis, Junco vulcani, Junco oreganus townsendi, and Junco alticola 
fulvescens. 7 
Detailed measurements of the specimens of Junco oreganus pontilis are 
added below: 
MEASUREMENTS OF SPECIMENS OF /UNCO OREGANUS PONTILIS, Al, TAKEN IN LOWER 
CALIFORNIA BY E. W. NELSON AND E. A. GOLDMAN 
Middle 
Vere. Sex Locality Date Wing Tail pe ae aa 
196964 & El Rayo, Hanson June 4,1905 76.5 66.5 11 20 
(type) Laguna Mts. oe 
196962 & El Rayo, Hanson June 4, 1905 76 66.5 10,8 2 
Laguna Mts. 
196963. ‘‘2’°[4] El Rayo, Hanson June 4, 1905 76 68.5 10.2% 5 20s 
Laguna Mts. 
196965 eS Hanson Laguna June 5, 1905 80.5 71.5 11 ‘20.5 
Mts., Hanson Lag- 
una 
Washington, D. C., March 8, 1919. 
