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who have made a study of the species, as to the status and relationship of these forms, 
but for the sake of uniformity, the nomenclature and classification of the Check-list will 
be presented here, though it does not exactly reflect the views of the writer. 
Taking adult male birds as best showing the distinctive characters, we find the 
following races in Canada. The Slate-coloured Junco Junco hyemalis hyemalis, the 
eastern representative, extends to the Rocky mountains, and in northern British 
Columbia, beyond them, in slightly modified form. It is distinguished by its general, 
uniform dark grey colour, the head almost or quite the same colour as the back and with 
little or no rusty on back and flanks. In Cypress hills in southwestern Saskatchewan 
and adjoining parts of Alberta is the Pink-sided Junco Junco hyemalis mearrni, regarded 
by some authorities as a full species, Junco meamsi. The grey of this bird is considerably 
paler than in Junco hyemalis hyemalis, the flanks are strongly vinaceous-pink, and there 
is a considerable wash of greyish buff over the back. West of the Coast range in British 
Columbia is the Oregon Junco Junco hyemalis oreganus, also regarded by many authorities 
as a distinct species, Junco oreganus. The head and breast of this bird are black, the 
back is strongly rusty-chestnut, and the flanks vinaceous-pink. These are three perfectly 
distinct types, easy of recognition. The following are somewhat more difficult of separa- 
tion. Shufelat’s Junco occupies the interior of southern British Columbia, between the 
Coast range and the Rocky mountains. It is called Junco hyemalis connectens in the Check- 
list, but is given various names by other authors. It is like an Oregon Junco with black 
head and breast, but the reddish on back and flanks is not as strong. Another bird is 
postulated for western Alberta and southward, the Montana Junco Junco hyemalis 
montanus. This is described as a grey-headed Shufeldt’s Junco, with head darker than 
that ot the Pink-sided. Though accredited to Canada, the writer fails to recognize it in 
the series of specimens in his possession. Instead, he finds a Slate-coloured Junco with 
a black head and breast, inhabiting the eastern Rockies and extending an indefinite 
distance eastward, associating closely with Shufeldt’s and the Slate-coloured Junco, where 
its range overlaps with them, but remaining distinct from either. Attention has lately 
been called to this bird under the name of Cassiar Junco; the scientific name to apply to 
it is somewhat uncertain, but the name connedens has been transferred to it by its describer 
for nomenclatural reasons. Females and juveniles of all these forms are duller in colour 
than adult males, those of the red-backed types have less red or pink than corresponding 
mature males, and those of the others, more. Even characteristic Slate-coloured Juncos 
may, when juvenile, have traces or distinct washes of rusty on flanks or back. Owing to 
this sexual and age variation, and to the fact that several forms may mix together in 
migration, some of these birds are very difficult to identify and our knowledge of their 
exact distribution or occasional occurrence is very imperfect. 
The Junco, with its black breast, light-coloured bill, and white bor- 
dered tail, is conspicuous amongst the large flocks of Sparrows passing 
through or tarrying in the spring and autumn. 
Economic Status. The effect of the Junco on agriculture is almost 
wholly beneficial. During its stay in the more settled sections it consumes 
large quantities of weed seeds. The insects it takes are mostly harmful. 
Little or no exception can be taken to it, as it does no perceptible damage 
to crops or fruit. 
When the species occurs in unusual numbers, as occasionally happens 
in British Columbia during their migration, their partiality for small 
seeds may sometimes make seeding a little difficult. 
581. Song Sparrow (Including Dakota, Rusty, Sooty, Yakutat, Kenai, Bls- 
choff’s, and Aleutian Song Sparrows). Melospiza melodia. L, 6-30 (on northwest 
coast to 7*50). Plate LIX A, A medium-sized brown and white streaked Sparrow. 
Underparts white; breast and flanks heavily and sharply striped with brown; the stripes 
aggregated to form a dark spot in the centre of the breast. 
Distindions. Rather like the Vesper Sparrow in size and general coloration, but 
darker and more decided in tone; lacks the white outer tail feathers. The breast-streaks 
are also sharper and darker brown and aggregated in the middle into a well-defined spot. 
The lack of the yellow stripe over the eye separates the Song from the Savannah Sparrow 
and the sharply streaked breast from any of the other Sparrows of comparable size and 
habit. The Song Sparrows of British Columbia are so much darker in general coloration 
than those of farther east that it is unlikely that they^will be often confused with these 
species. 
