May, 1901 
THE CONDOR 
65 
The Pacific Coast Yellowthroats. 
By Joseph Grinneee. 
Geothlypis trichas scirpicola — new subspecies. 
Tule' Yellowthroat. 
SuBSP. ChaiE — Similar to Geothlypis trichas occidentalis, but brighter colored and larger 
throughout, with especially longer tail. Twenty-five males from the Pacific slope of Los Angeles 
Count}' measure in inches: Wing, 2.18 (55 mm.) to 2.37 {60.3 mm.) averaging 2.25 (57 mni.); tail, 
2.22 (56 mm.) to 2.52 (64 mm.) averaging 2.35 (60 mm.). Prevalent primary formula in unabrad- 
ed specimens, 4-3-5-2-6-1-7-8 or 4-3-2-5-1 -6-7-8. 
Type — ad.; No. 2217, Coll. J. G.; El Monte, Los Angeles County, California; March 20, 
1897; Collected by J. Grinnell. 
Habitat — Permanently resident in the fresh-water tule beds of the southern coast district of 
California. 
Geothlypis trichas sinuosa — new subspecies. 
Salt Marsh Yellowthroat. 
SUBSP. Ch.ar. — Similar to Geothlypis trichas occidentalis, but dorsally and laterally darker in 
color, and size much less. Thirteen males from the marshes of San Francisco Bay measure: Wing, 
2.02 (51 mm.) to 2.15 (54.6 mm.) averaging 2.10 (53 mm.); tail, 2.08 (52.6 mm.) to 2.23 (56.6 mm.) 
averaging 2.16 (55 mm.). Prevalent primary formula in unabraded specimens, 4-3-2-5-1-6-7-8 or 
3-4-2-5-1-6-7-8. 
Type — ($ ad.; No. 4270, Coll. J. G.; Palo .\lto, California; May 31; 1900; collected by J. Grin- 
nell. 
Habitat — Permanently re.sident about the salt marshes of San Francisco Bay and vicinity. 
RemarKvS — A third form occurs abundantly in parts of California during the 
spring and fall migrations. It appears at Pasadena during the latter part of April, 
often after the resident yellow-throats are caring for nearly fledged young. This 
migratory race is evidently the form suinniering on the Pacific slope from Central 
California to British Columbia, and has been named Geothlypis trichas arizela by 
Oberholser (Auk XYI, July 1899, p. 257). The birds obtained at Pasadena in 
April, were found in the brush along the foothills far from water, and were in 
company with the Tolmie, Townsend, Calaveras and Pileolated Warblers, Warb- 
ling Vireos, Western Flycatchers and many other migrating species. The speci- 
mens secured are somewhat smaller than scirpicola and occidentalis and yet consid- 
erably larger than sinuosa, their average measurements being; Wing, 2.18 (55 
mm.); tail, 2.28 (58 ram.). The wing is more pointed than in either of the others, 
the primary formula being 2-3-4-5-1-6-7-8 or 3-2-4-5-1-6-7-8. Ar-izela, therefore, is 
the migratory race, moving south in winter to Lower California, Sinaloa and Tepic 
( fide Oberholser, 1 . c.). 
I find it difficult on account on the variations due to age and season to as.sign 
color characters to any of our Yellowthroats. Scirpicola is the brightest and deep- 
est colored of all, the yellow of the under parts being more extended posteriorly 
and having a hint of an orange tint, while the upper parts are brighter brown or 
green according to age or wear; in these respects, as well as in size, showing a 
pronounced tendency toward beldijigioi Lower California. Occidentalis, as judged 
from Arizona examples, is palest, while the diminutive sinuosa is decidedly the 
darke.st. The width of the frontal black and vertical white bands varies indiffer- 
ent individuals, but as a rule it is narrowest in arizela and sinuosa. 
It is of interest to note the correspondence in characters of certain bird races 
occurring on the marshes of San P'rancisco Bay and on those of Southern Cali- 
fornia. The former locality produces the small Melospiza melodia pusillula. Am- 
