228 Brewster o?t Birds of Fort Walla Walla , W. T. 
Species and Varieties calling for Special Consideration. 
6. Par us atricapillus occidentalis (Baird) Cones. Oregon Chick- 
adee. — A series of six specimens furnishes satisfactory proof — which I 
believe has been heretofore -wanting — that P. occidentalis is simply a 
dark, geographical race of P. atricapillus. One example is absolutely 
typical of occidentalism while the others grade evenly into a form that is 
essentially undistinguishablp Irom atricapillus. Indeed the . lightest 
colored specimen is so nea'rly like some Massachusetts birds taken at the 
same season that I have been unable, after a most careful comparison, to 
detect the slightest difference in either color or markings ; the wing of 
the Walla Walla skin, however, is slightly shorter. There are no appar- 
ent approaches in this series to P. septentrionalis. 
16. Spizella monticola ochracea var. nov. Western Tree Spar 
row. — Ch. Subsp. $ $ Similis £\ monticolce , sed colore supra dilutiore ; 
strigis dorsalibus rarioribus, angustioribu§ et magis acute in tergo pallid- 
iore depictis ; lateribus gulaque magis ochraceis ; vertice, in auctumnali- 
bus quidem avibus, saspissime magis cinereo. 
$ (Fort Walla Walla, Washington Territory, Nov. 8, 1881. Capt. 
Bendire.) Back and rump 'pale sandy-brown or brownish ochraceous, 
the back with sharply defined black streaks which, excepting on the scap- 
ulars, have no chestnut bordering; crown invaded centrally, from the 
nape, by a broad space of pale ash which tinges most of the feathers 
to their bases and confines the usual chestnut to a small area on the 
forehead and two narrow, lateral stripes ; lores and sides of head pale 
fulvous ; entire under parts washed with warm ochraceous. deepest on the 
sides and abdomen, palest on the throat where it only partially conceals 
the ashy beneath. Otherwise similar to 6 1 . monticola .■ 
Dimensions. Wing, 2.94; tail, 2.73; culmen, .43. 
Habitat. Western North America, east to Dakota, north to Arctic 
Ocean : Alaska ? 
The specimen above described differs widely from its nearest approaches 
among my eastern examples. The ground-color of the back is decidedly 
paler, bringing out the dark streaks in sharper contrast, which is height- 
ened by the absence of their usual chestnut edging ; the ash of the throat 
and sides of the head is much fainter, and in many places replaced by 
brownish-fulvous ; the under parts, especially the sides and abdomen, are 
more strongly ochraceous ; and the broad, ashy crown-patch gives the 
head a very different appearance. 
Upon testing these characters by comparison with the extensive mate- 
rial in the National Museum, I find the different ground-color and mark- 
ings of the back to be constant in western birds, while the ochraceous 
tint of the throat and sides of the head, although most conspicuous in 
fall and winter specimens, is also a good distinction; the ashy hood is 
apparently confined to autumnal birds, and with these is variable in 
extent, as well as sometimes wanting ; but as it never occurs in eastern 
examples it is not wholly lacking in diagnostic value. 
