Page:Condor7(6).djvu/24

 Nov., 9o51 Atratus versus Megalonyx BY HARRY S.SVARTH HAT the accepted arrangement of the towhees of the southwest, of the Pifii[o maculatus group, is an arbitrary and artificial one, is a fact that is evident to anyone who studies the matter at all carefully. I refer particularly to P.m. rnegalonyx and . m, atratus, as at present distinguished; atratus being con- fined to the coast district of southern California from the Sierra San Fernando, and Sierra San Gabriel, south into northern southern California, while megalonyx occupies the extensive territory lying between the Pacific Ocean and western Texas and from central California and Wyoming, south into northern Mexico. Now in the region outlined above I believe that two forms of Pipilo maculatus may be distinguished, but the dividing line hould not be drawn as it is at present. That atratus is simply a synonym of megaloz That such is the case is by no means a new idea with me, for Pacific coast ornithologists have generally re- . fused to recognize the race (see Grinnell, Condor IV, 19o2, 23; Check list of California Birds, 58), but it is only lately that I have been able to get together material to properly demonstrate the facts of the case. The type of Pipilo megalonyx was secured by Xantus at Fort Tejon, southern California, and as this towhee is resident wherever found in California, it makes little difference whether this particular specimen was a breeding bird or not. Pfiilo maulatus atrahts was described by Mr. Ridgway from specimens shot by Mr. Grinnell in the vicinity of Pasadena, some sixty miles distant from Fort I'ejon and in the same faunal area. The principal distinguish- ing characteristic is the excessively dark colo- ration, with glossy black rump, uniform with the back. Of Pasadena specimens there is, I believe, a demonstrable fact. LINED AREA, P. M. MEOA/ONYX; DOTTED AREA, P. M. MONTANU; CROSSES, PROBABLE AREA OF' INTERORADATION. No. x. Huachuca Mountains., type locality ol No. 2. Pasadena, type locality of P. rt. attaints. No. 3. Fort Tejon, type locality of P. m. mealonj,zr. No. 4. Palo Alto, type locality of P. n. alctfer. was an abundant supply to be had, but skins from the type locality of megalonyx appeared, until recently, to be entirely lacking in California collections. In May, 9o4, I made a short trip into the mountains southwest of Fort Tejon, and secured seven towhees at a spot about twelve miles from the fort, while a few weeks later Mr. Grinnell secured additional specimens at Mount Pinos. which I now have before nle. In all I have examined in this connection about one hundred and fifty speci- nens, from the following localities: Los Angeles County (mostly Pasadena spec- imens) 75; Mt. Pinosand Fort Tejon, x3; Piute Mountains, Cal., ; Monterey, Cal., 5: San Francisco Bay region (?. m. fhlcifer), 15; Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, 20; scattered localities in Arizona and New Mexico, 9; besides specimens of P.m. arclicus. Taking np the series from Los Angeles and Pasadena first, it appears that the