heermanni. If geographical intergradation still exists between them, I should expect to trace it among the Song Sparrows occupying the brackish tide marshes where the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers flow into the head of San Francisco Bay. But such material is as yet inaccessible to me. Skins from the salt marshes on the north side of the Bay (St. Vincent, Marin Co.) agree exactly with Baird's description of samuelis. As the type locality, Petaluma, is within 5 miles of tide water, it seems reasonable to suppose that the type was a tide-land bird. So far, I have failed to learn of a yellow-bellied Song Sparrow being obtained on the north side of the Bay. We are, therefore, to suppose that the Bay forms a barrier between samuelis on the north and pusillula on the south. The yellowness of the under parts is the most striking character of pusillula, and the great majority of my specimens have this character well pronounced. But I have a few skins from the salt marshes near Palo Alto, taken along with yellow examples, which are scarcely or not at all. yellow beneath. These closely resemble samuelis, but are not so broadly streaked with black dorsally, and the general tone is ashier.Such birds seem to me properly considered as individual variants of pusillula; for they are exactly like the more or less yellow examples in every other respect. It has been suggested that Baird's gouldi was one of these white-bellied varieties of pusillula. This might be decided by a comparison with the type. Some (symbol for female ? ?) of pusillula have the wing 2.10, though this is rather below the average. Perhaps, in view of the above evidence, some would prefer to rank pusillula as a species; but its relationship seems to be best expressed by the trinomial.
I have no material from California north of Marin County. Scores of skins are needed from almost every valley in California before we can hope to properly classify the various local races of the Song Sparrow. Although so much alike, they appeal to one with all the more interest; for a study of two slightly differentiated races will certainly give us a clearer insight into the manner and causes of the evolution of species, than if we gave attention exclusively to the completely separated forms.
Two Years With Mexican Birds. III. Some Plantation Birds.
BY E. H.SKINNER
GRAY'S ROBIN (Merula grayi) during his stay in the vicinity of Tapachula is one of the commonest varieties. They are present in large numbers late in the winter and spring and ahnost entirely disappear in summer. The coffee plantations with a heavy undergrowth of coffee shaded by larger trees are the favorite resorts of these birds, very few being found in the deep woods or in pastures. In December a very few arrive and we are made aware of their presence by the lovely song which is occasionally heard, the Mexican Zenzontli being famous for his minstrelsy.
By the middle of February the birds have all arrived, being scattered all over the cafetal, but not going in flocks. Towards evening when the sun comes out after an afternoon shower everything is inexpressibly bright and fresh and the robins seem to appreciate it, for at such times I have heard as many as fifty birds singing as if their lives depended upon it. Besides their song they have a little whistle which is almost exactly like the last seven notes of the familiar air, 'You Can't Play in my Yard', and another gutteral note "chuck-chuck", which, by the way, is their Indian name.
The breeding season commences in April and continues into July. I have taken fresh eggs between April 20 and July 11. The nest is a coarse affair
