Albinism and Melanism in North 
American Bird*. Ruthven Deane. 
In a letter from Mr. Charles E. Aiken, this gentleman states that 
his friend, Mr. C. N. Holden of Chicago, 111., has a perfect albino 
Wood Pewee. ' 
Bull N. O.O. 4, Jan., 1879, p.20 
Variation in Size in the Wood Pewee.— The Wood Pewee ( Horizogus 
Virens) throughout the whole breadth of its breeding range, from Florida 
to Newfoundland, shows a nice gradation in size from large examples in 
the south, to small examples in the north. This fact seems worthy of com- 
ment as the northern examples of a species are generally characterized by 
being larger. The greater size of the southern bird has heretofore been 
commented upon by Mr. C. J. Maynard [in verbis ). The birds from the 
north average, Males. : Wing, 3.30 — 5 tarsus, .52 ; bill (from nostril to tip), 
.38 — ; width of bill (at nostrils), .26+. Extremes: Wing, 3.18 to 3.42; 
tarsus, .46 to .54; bill, .30 to .43; bill (wd.), .25 to. 29. Females-. Wing, 
3.15; tarsus, .49+ ; bill, .38+; bill (wd.), 25+. Extremes: Wing, 3.nto 
3.18; tarsus, .45 to .53; bill, .36 — to .40; bill (wd.), .24 to .27 • Those 
from the South (arbitrary dividing line, Lat. 42 0 ), Males : Wing, 341+ ; 
tarsus, .53+ ; bill, .40— ; bill (wd.), .28+. Extremes : Wing, 3.30 to 3.55 ; 
tarsus, .51 to 57; bill, .39 to .43 ; bill (wd.), .27 to .32. Females-. Wing, 
3.17+ ; tarsus, .52+ ; bill, .38+ ; bill (wd.), .27+. Extremes : Wing, 3.08 to 
3.45; tarsus, .50 to .58; bill, .37 to .40; bill (wd.), .25 to .29. These meas- 
urements were taken from a series of thirty-two specimens. 
It is also interesting to note that both the figures by Catesbyand Abbot 
{Auk, XIII, p. 104), show the pronounced hook and larger size of the south- 
ern bird’s bill. For the use of specimens my thanks are due to Drs. Walter 
Faxon and C. W. Richmond, Messrs. Witmer Stone, William Brewster, H. 
B Bigelow, and others. — Reginald Hbber Howe, Jr., Long-uiood, Mass. 
Auk, XVIII, April., 1901, p\ 
