_Emberiza sandwichensis_, GM. I, 1788, 875. _Emberiza arctica_,
LATHAM, Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 414. _Fringilla arctica_, VIGORS, Zoöl.
of Blossom, 1839, 20 (perhaps one of the smaller
species).—“BRANDT, Icon. Ross. 2, 6.” _Euspiza arctica_, BP.
Conspectus, 1850, 469. _Zonotrichia arctica_, FINSCH, 1872.
_Emberiza chrysops_, PALLAS, Zoög. Rosso-As. II, 1811, 45, tab.
xlviii, fig. 1 (Unalaska). _Sandwich Bunting_, LATH. Syn. II,
1783, 202. _Unalaska Bunting_, PENNANT, Arctic Zoöl. II, 363, 320,
No. 229 (not of p. 364, No. 233). _Passerculus sandwichensis_,
BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 444.—DALL & BANNISTER, Tr. Ch. Ac. I,
1869, 284.—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1, 180. _Passerculus savanna_, DALL &
BANNISTER, Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1869, 283.
SP. CHAR. Almost exactly like _P. savanna_, but half an inch longer,
with much larger bill. Length, 6.12 inches; wing, 3.00; tail, 2.55.
Bill above, .50; below, .36; gape, .56; depth, .27.
HAB. Northwestern coast from the Columbia River to Russian America.
Specimens of this race from Sitka are absolutely undistinguishable
from eastern _P. savanna_ except in size; the colors and proportion of
bill being the same. A young bird (from Kodiak) differs from that of
_savanna_ in larger size, and a bright reddish-fulvous tinge to upper
parts, and a deep yellowish-fulvous tinge on jugulum and along the
sides.
HABITS. This variety is the northwest-coast form of the common Savanna
Sparrow, and is found during the summer from Oregon to Alaska. Dr.
Suckley states that he found this species an abundant spring visitor
at Fort Steilacoom. Dr. Cooper, in his Zoology of Washington
Territory, states it to be only a passenger through that section,
migrating northward, at the end of April, in pairs, and not returning
until the end of September. They come back in flocks, and frequent the
shores and prairies along the sea-coast. Their plumage seems to be the
same at all seasons. Nothing is known of their note. They are supposed
to spend their winters in Southern Oregon and California, though their
actual presence has not been detected in either State. They do not
remain during the summer near the Columbia, but pass to the north, or
to the interior plains east of the Cascade Range. Dr. Cooper states
that their habits closely resemble those of _P. anthinus_.
Mr. Dall states that two specimens of this species were taken at Sitka
by Mr. Bischoff.
Passerculus savanna, var. anthinus, BONAP.