Hen SHAW on Melospiza meloda and its Allies. 157 
tinguishable from meloda by a generally paler tone of coloration, 
by a decided increase of size, especially of wing and tail, and by a 
slightly longer and considerably more slender bill. The inter- 
gradation of this form with meloda is readily traceable and com- 
plete. 
From the very varied nature of the country occupied by fallax , 
it being broken up by lofty mountain ranges, and the consequent 
differences of climate, considerable discrepancies might naturally 
be expected in specimens of this race from different localities. 
Such proves to be the case ; and, in examining a large series, the 
attention is often arrested by some slight phase of color which is 
often so intangible as to practically elude definition, but which 
is occasionally sufficient to identify all the individuals from some 
one limited neighborhood. So frequently, in fact, is this impres- 
sion received, that it would almost appear as if each locality in 
the middle region furnished a type of its own, exhibiting the main 
characteristics of fallax, but differing more or less appreciably. 
Thus the region of the Gila River affords a style of this race quite 
distinct from any other. The principal variation seen is in the 
very pale reddish tints, with scarcely a trace of dusky, which is 
especially noticeable in the markings of the breast. Another phase 
from Camp Harney, Oregon, is remarkable for its pale grayish 
tints. Such inter-races doubtless result from causes very local in 
their action, and are so slight and usually so inconstant as to 
deserve nothing more than passing comment. 
Reaching the foothills of the Sierras, we find fallax beginning to 
assume new characters, and in the mountains and along the western 
foothills it finally merges into var. heermanni. This form is dis- 
tinguished by a much darker shade of brown than either fallax or 
meloda possesses, and by a bill much stouter than in the former, but 
less robust than in the latter. Heermanni has usually been con- 
sidered the Californian Song Sparrow, the term thus including in- 
differently the birds from the coast and the interior. But this is a 
mistake. The type, now before me, came from Fort Tejon, and it 
is in the interior only that the style to which this name was applied 
is met with. 
Reaching the coast, another form is for the first time encoun- 
tered. This is the var. samuelis , of which the gouldii of Baii;d, as 
correctly determined by Mr. Ridgway, is the fall plumage. Hitherto 
some three or four individuals from the vicinity of San Francisco 
