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1924] Swarth: Birds and Mammals of the Skeena River Region 351

Calcarius ornatus (J. K. Townsend). Chestnut-collared Longspur

An adult female (no. 42272) in worn summer plumage collected in

Kispiox Valley, July 8. I do not believe that this bird was breeding

at the point where it was taken; it was most likely a wanderer that
had strayed far from the breeding grounds. This is an even more
extraordinary occurrence than the capture of the Smith longspur six
weeks later at the same place. The latter species is known to breed
to the northeast of this region, and a slight deflection to the westward
by a south-bound migrant would aceount for the st ‘ay we collected.
The chestnut-collared longspur, however, is not known to breed nearly
so far north as this in the interior; presumably it required a long
flight to the northwest to bring this bird to the place where it was
found. I believe that this is the first recorded occurrence of the species
in British Columbia.

Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus Bonaparte.
Western Savannah Sparrow

There were a few Savannah sparrows migrating through Hazelton
during the last week in May. In Kispiox Valley a little later small
numbers were breeding in hay fields and pastures. In the open
country at the summit of Nine-mile Mountain (45000 to 5500 feet
altitude) the species was breeding in fair abundance. In Kispiox
Valley again, the third week in August, there was an influx of
migrating Savannah sparrows; they came in swarms, reaching the
maximum of abundance about the middle of September. Some were
seen up to the dav | left, September 26.

Nineteen specimens collected (nos. 42273-42290, 42410) : at Hazel-
ton, May 30, two, adult male and female; Kispiox Valley, adult female,
July 9; jJuvenal male, July 12; two adult females, four immature
females, three immature males, August 24 to September 10; Nine-mile
Mountain, July 22 to 29, three adult males, three adult females. The
Nine-mile Mountain specimens are alaudinus; they are exactly like
Savannah sparrows from more northern points in the interior of
British Columbia and Alaska. The status of the Savannah sparrow
breeding in the lowlands of the region cannot be settled at this time.
The one adult collected that was actually breeding (no. 42275, female.
Kispiox Valley, July 9), is of small size and with short, stubby bill.
The two shot at Hazelton on May 30 were not breeding; they may or

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