Page:Condor16(2).djvu/43

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Mar., 1914 BIRDS OF SITKA AND VICINITY, SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA 87 anti proncuvced by him to be "typical examples of alaudinus." Two specimens secured by the 19o 7 Alexander Expedition on Baranof Island, and one from Chi- chagof Island, are stated by Grinnell to be nearer savanna than alaudinus. A nest containing five fresh eggs was found by C. Littlejohn at an altitude of about 26o0 feet near Hooniah, Chichagof Island, June 25, 19o 7 (Grinnell, 19o9, p. 228). I found Savannah sparrows fairly common in summer on grass land? from 25oo to 35o9 feet altitude on the mountains of Baranof Island. They were undoubted- ly breeding in this locality but no nests were found. A specimen was taken but was very badly shot up and was not preserved. The bill of this specimen was small and the superciliary stripe was whitish, rather than yellowish. For these reasons, at the time, I considered it alaudinus.' gonotri0hia 0oronata. Golden-crowned Sparrow. Abundant migrant. Ar- rived in the neighborhood of Sitka September 1, and was still present in some numbers a month later, although the height of migration seemed to have passed. It was noted from the shore up to above timber line on the mountains. Accord- tug to Merrill, the return migration takes place mostly in late April and early May. Spizella monticola ochracea. Western Tree Sparrow. One specimen taken at Sitka by Bischoff (Dall & Bannister, 1869, p. 285). Junco byemalts oreganus. Oregon Junco. Abundant summer resident, re- maining until late in the fall and possibly wintering, though I secured no posi- tive information on the latter point. Breeds from the salt water up to at least 20o0 feet around mountain meadows. About August 15 !arge companies of adults and young appear along the beaches where they feed among the piles of kelp and drift-wood. Melospiza melodia rufina. Sooty Song Sparrow. This species, originally de- scribed from Sitka (Bonaparte, ?85o, p. 477), is a common summer v:sitant in brush and grass lands on islands and along the shore. After the latter part of August, I was ?mable to find it, all song sparrows observed after that time be- longing to the next form. A nest containing four slightly incubated eggs was taken by F. Stephens at Hooniah, Chichagof Island, June 23, I9O7 (Grinnell. ?9o9, p. 23o). ltIelospiza melodia eaurina. Yakmat Song Sparrow. Abundant migrant. Ap- pears in the vicinity of Sitka about August I5, and by Septeml?er I is very plenti-- ful. Was still common when I left, in early October. I did not secure any data as to the time of the spring migration. Melospiza lineolni gracilis. Forbush Sparrow. This bird was first described from Sitka by Kittlitz ( I858, p. I99)., as Emberiza gracilis; therefore I have used the name gracilis instead of striata which is used in the last A. O. U. Chcck-Li?'t. It is apparently a fairly common summer visitant during some years, and much less plentiful during others. In the summer of ?9?2 I found it common in the grass around Swan Lake and in marshes at the head of Silver Bay. Young birds just out of the nest were noted in the former locality July 28. During t9x 3 I visited both of these localities several times but failed to find the species at all, nor did I note it anywhere else in the region. Grinnell (?898, p. ?29) took speci- mens at Swan Lake, June 25, I896, one of which was a juvenile about one-third grown. During the summer of x9o7 the Alexander Expedition noted this bird at Bear Bay, Baranof Island, and at Port Frederick, Idaho Inlet, and Hooniah, Chichagof Island. A nest containing five young was found by Littlejohn in the latter locality June 26 (Grinnell, x9o9, p. 231 ). l?asserella iliaca townsendi. Townsend Fox Sparrow. Comnlon stunmet