SPARROWS 
405 
below. These are heavily feathered birds, that appear larger than their measurements 
seem to warrant. Four subspecies are recognized in the Check-list, more by other authori- 
ties. Beginning with the Shumagin Fox Sparrow (le Pinson fauve des ties Shumagin) 
Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis, of the Alaska Peninsula; the Kodiak Fox Sparrow (Le Pin- 
son fauve de Kodiak) Passerella iliaca insularis is next along the coast, extending eastward 
to the base of the Alaska Panhandle. Townsend’s Fox Sparrow (le Pinson fauve de 
Townsend) Passerella iliaca townsendi occupies the Panhandle itself, and the northern 
British Columbia coast; and the Sooty Fox Sparrow (le Pinson fauve fuligineux) Passer- 
ella iliaca fuliginosa, Vancouver Island and the closely adjoining Washington coast. They 
vary from each other slightly in colour and size details, but are too much alike to be satis- 
factorily separated without a large series of specimens for comparison. Any of those dark 
forms may be expected on the British Columbia coast in migration. The Vancouver 
Island bird, the Sooty Fox Sparrow, is the only one permanently resident in its breeding 
locality and is the darkest and most saturated in colour of the series. Other forms that 
have been, or may be, recognized in migration on the coast are the Valdez Fox Sparrow 
(le Pinson fauve de Valdez) Passerella iliaca sinuosa, and the Yukutat Fox Sparrow" (le 
Pinson fauve de Yukutat) Passerella iliaca aimed ens. 
This sparrow remains within the limits of civilization only for a few 
days in spring and autumn. Occasionally in spring it greets us with a 
song of full clear tone that is equalled by few other birds and rarely sur- 
passed by any. 
583. Lincoln’s Sparrow, le pinson de Lincoln. Melospiza lincolni. L, 5 ■ 75. 
Like the Song Sparrow but with a belt of buffy across the breast which is marked also 
with small, fine spots not aggregated into a central blotch. 
Distinctions. The above distinctions will separate Lincoln’s 
from all other sparrows it may be confused with. 
Field Marks. A good view will show the faint buff breast and 
fine spotting. Otherwise it is with difficulty separated in life from 
the Song Sparrow. The back is rather greyer than the Song Spar- 
row and this often arouses a suspicion of the presence of Lincoln’s 
Sparrow that may be confirmed by other characters. 
Nesting. Similar to that of the Song Sparrow, on the ground. 
Distribution. The species is distributed all over America, 
breeding in the northern coniferous woods. 
SUBSPECIES. The Eastern Lincoln’s Sparrow" (le Pinson 
de Lincoln de l’Est) Melospiza lincolni lincolni extends w'est to the 
Coast Range. Forbush’s Sparrow (le Pinson de l’Ouest de Lincoln) 
Melospiza lincolni gracilis is accredited to the coast, breeding south 
to Sitka region, Alaska, and migrating along the British Columbia coast. It is a faintlj 
defined race, slightly more olivaceous on back, and with the dark streaks heavier and 
more numerous. It is not unanimously accepted and the difficulty of identifying individual 
specimens makes the separation of range of the two forms very uncertain. 
Figure 483 
Lincoln’s Sparrow; 
scale, h 
584. Swamp Sparrow, le pinson des marais. Melospiza georgiana. L, 5-89. 
Much like the Song Sparrow, but of stronger and less blended coloration and without any 
distinct breast-streaks or markings. 
Distinctions. The Swamp Sparrow is difficult 
to separate from several other forms comparable in 
both colour and size. It may be distinguished 
from the Song Sparrow, with which it is most likely 
to be confused, by the unstreaked breast, and, in 
adult birds, by the red crown. Young autumn 
birds strongly resemble juvenile White-throats, but 
lack the faint yellow loral spot, are not as evenly 
ruddy on the back, and usually have a suggestion 
of an ashy bar across the shoulders at the base of 
the neck, an ashy cast to the crown, and eyebrow- 
lines that are absent in that species. It may be 
known from the Tree Sparrow" by the lack of the 
dark middle-breast-spot or white wing-bars. 
Field Marks. It resembles a Song Sparrow 
without breast-streaks, a White-throat without 
Figure 484 
Swamp Sparrow; natural size. 
