GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS WEST OF 100TH MERIDIAN. 299 
evidence to establish the connection between rufina and melodia. But, while admitting 
the possibility that the relations between insignis and rufina may be as close as that of 
races, we feel justified in asserting that the inter-gradation, necessary to establish 
this, cannot he shown from the material accumulated up to the present time. Meas¬ 
urements appended below demonstrate that between the largest specimen of rufina 
in the collection and the smallest of insignis there is a very wide gap. Nor does there 
appear to be any known law of geographical variation to account for this. 
As has been stated, and in conformity with a well-known law, increase of latitude 
seems to be accompanied by a general increase of size. But this fails of application 
in the case of insignis, since Sitka, the typical locality of rufina, is in the same latitude 
with Kodiak ; while one specimen of rufina, by no means the largest, is present from 
Lituya Bay, which is slightly farther north thau that island. 
Possibly its insular habitat may be deemed sufficient to account for the marked 
characters of insignis, since in their power of impressing peculiar features upon their 
zoological inhabitants, islands seem to have a law of their own. 
Color alone considered, although in this respect insignis is well marked, the step from 
rufina appears inconsiderable when it is remembered the great change that has been 
traced between rufina and melodia. The gap in size is much more important. Analogy 
in cases like the present has proved far from being always a safe guide, and since, by 
the test of inter-gradation, the only reliable one. insignis remains widely apart from 
the others, I deem it far safer to allow insignis to stand upon its merits until its claim 
to distinct specific rank be actually disproven. 
Measurements are appended to show the average size of the various races; the largest 
and smallest individuals of each series are also given. 
• 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Bill. 
Tarsus. 
Depth of 
culmen. 
31. melodia (average of 21 specimens). 
2. 60 
2. 80 
.46 
.83 
.30 
Largest. 
2. 77 
2. 90 
.47 
.78 
.29 
Smallest. 
2. 32 
2. 60 
.45 
.78 
.30 
var. fallax (average of 23 specimens). 
2 69 
2. 94 
.44 
.84 
.25 
Largest. 
2. 92 
3.17 
.43 
.83 
.27 
Smallest. 
2.35 
2.52 
.43 
. 77 
.25 
var. heermanni (average of 13 specimens). 
2.61 
2. 82 
.45 
.84 
.28 
Largest. 
2. SO 
2. 93 
.46 
. 84 
.28 
Smallest. 
2. 45 
2.70 
. 45 
.83 
.24 
var. samuelis (average of 46 specimens). 
2. 41 
2. 48 
.45 
.84 
.26 
Largest. 
2. 60 
2. 64 
. 45 
.86 
.26 
Smallest. 
2.13 
2.23 
.40 
. 76 
.23 
var. mexiaana (one specimen). 
2. 52 
2.83 
.46 
.87 
.26 
var. guttata (average of 23 specimens). 
2.63 
2.89 
.44 
.90 
.26 
Largest. 
2.78 
3.14 
.46 
.93 
Smallest. 
2. 42 
2. 59 
. 45 
.83 
.......... 
var. rufina (average of 7 specimens)... 
2. 78 
2.87 
.48 
.92 
.26 
Largest. 
2.96 
3. 12 
.52 
.93 
. 29 
Smallest. 
2. 61 
2. 64 
.43 
.87 
.25 
.If. insignis (average of 20 specimens). 
3. 26 
3. 39 
.61 
1. 07 
.30 
Largest. 
3. 40 
3. 40 
.50 
1.13 
.32 
Smallest. 
J - 
3.13 
3. 35 
.57 
1.07 
.29 
M. melodia fallax (Baird). Rocky Mountain Sparrow. 
This form was met with at several localities at the foot of the eastern slope, although 
it is along here that the change towards the heermanni type is first indicated; some 
specimens, indeed, from near Carson, Nev., appear to be referable to the latter variety. 
M. melodia guttata (Nutt.). Oregon Song Sparrow. 
If the song sparrows taken in Oregon at the base of the mountains in September 
are summer residents, as is doubtless the case, then the habitat of this race includes 
a restricted portion of the eastern slope. The specimens alluded to, from Warm 
Springs Agency and Crooked River, while not typical, are nearest to the above race. 
At The Dalles, on the Columbia, in October, these birds were extremely abundant in 
the hedgerows and brier-patches and along the small streams. At this locality the 
specimens were nearly typical guttata. 
Passerella Swainson. 
F. iliaca megaryncha (Bd.). Thick-billed Sparrow. 
This curious sparrow is present along much of the eastern slope in summer, and 
probably reaches quite to the Columbia River. It was first seen near Carson, Nev., 
May 16, being at this date found in considerable numbers in the wild-cherry brush 
along the canon sides. It was apparently still on its way north, although Mr. Ridg- 
