NOTE.-Since the above was written, Mr. Wm. Palmer has kindly loaned me for examination three adult males and two females, obtained at Escanaba, Michigan, in June, 1883. These all belong to americana, and doubtless represent the form which breeds in that region.

NOTE ON THE ANAS HYPERBOREUS, PALL., AND ANSER ALBATUS, CASS.

BY ROBERT RIDGWAY.

(Read March 8, 1884.)

While there can be no doubt that Mr. Cassin did right in separating the smaller North American Snow Geese from the larger ones, it is very evident that he committed an error in giving the smaller form a new name. Pallas's Anas hyperboreus was based upon the birds of this species occurring in eastern Siberia; and on referring to his description it is perfectly clear that the Siberian specimens are identical with those from Alaska and other western portions of North America, which represent the so-called "A. albatus" of Cassin. This smaller form of the Snow Goose is not only the typical race, but has by far the most extensive distribution, so far, at least, as the United States are concerned, and is decidedly the more common one in most collections.* The larger race is the Anas nivalis of Forster (Philos. Trans., lxii, 1772, p. 413), and may therefore be called Chen (or Anser) hyperboreus nivalis (FORST). The habitat of this large race is the region about Hudson's Bay (the breeding grounds unknown, however), and southward in winter chiefly along the Atlantic coast of the United

*The National Museum possesses only three specimens of the larger form, but has received at least ten times that number of the smaller race.

States. The smaller form, or true hyperboreus, breeds along the arctic coast, from northern Alaska eastward for an undetermined distance, but at least to the mouth of the McKenzie river; and throughout this extent of coast-line, and thence southward over the whole western portion of the continent, entirely replaces the larger bird.

As to the distinctive characters of the two races, I would remark that, while the length of the wing is by no means decisive (the maximum of hyperboreus being about 17.50 inches, and the minimum of nivalis 17.00!), nivalis always has a much larger bill, the culmen in adults of this form measuring from 2.50 to 2.65, and the length of the bill from tip to point of the basal angles, 3.00 to 3.12, the corresponding measurements of hyperboreus being only 1.95 to 2.28 and 2.50, or less, to 2.75.

REMARKS ON THE TYPE SPECIMENS OF MUSCICAPA FULVIFRONS, GIRAUD, AND MITREPHORUS PALLESCENS, COUES.

BY ROBERT RIDGWAY.

(Read March 8, 1884.)

In the "Nomenclature of North American Birds" (p. 32, Nos. 329 and 329a), I have included, as two races of one species, an "Empidonax fulvifrons (Giraud) Scl.," and an E. fulvifrons pallescens Coues." This I did under the impression, based upon previous examination of the type specimens, that they were in reality sufficiently distinct to justify subspecific separation. Having recently had the matter brought to mind in another connection, I have re-examined the types in question, together with other material, and have thereby come to the following conclusions: (1) that E. pallescens is a decidedly smaller, lighter, or grayer colored western race, restricted to the western side of the Rocky Mountains, in Arizona and New Mexico, and probably portions of western Mexico also, although I have not seen specimens from

south of the United States boundary; (2) that E. fulvifrons proper belongs to the country on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, the National Museum possessing the original type specimen, stated by Giraud to have come from Texas; (3) that in southern Mexico a third race exists, which agrees with pallescens in smaller size, but differs in decidedly deeper, richer coloration. The latter is the Empidonax rubicundus CAB. (Mus. Hein., ii, p. 70), but, being unquestionably conspecific with E. fulvifrons, should, in accordance with more modern usage, be called E. fulvifrons rubicundus (Cab.). We have, therefore, three geographical races of this species: the typical fulvifrons (Gir.) of "Texas" (and probably northeastern Mexico also), the E. fulvifrons rubicundus (Cab.) of southern MexICO, and E. fulvifrons pallescens (Coues) of southern Arizona and western New Mexico, and, probably, western Mexico.

I subjoin measurements of the adult specimens now before me, including two (from El Moro, New Mexico) which have the plumage much abraded.

c. E. fulvifrons rubicundus (Cab).

32914 ad.

“Mexique”

2.35 1.90 .37 .20 .52

It may be seen from the above measurements that there is much variation in dimensions in E. fulvifrons pallescens, from which we may reasonably infer that the same would be the case in the other races were an equal number of specimens measured. The coloration, however, is very uniform, none of the specimens of pallescens (and there are several young birds which are not measured) showing any approach to either fulvifrons or rubicundus.*

True E. fulvifrons is of a peculiar shade of dull ochraceous-buff beneath, the throat and belly slightly paler, but not at all inclining to white; the upper parts are light dull brown, very slightly darker and duller on the pileum and lighter on the rump. E. pallescens is light yellowish ochraceous on the breast and sides, with the throat and belly inclining to yellowish white, and the upper parts are decidedly grayer than in fulvifrons. E. rubicundus is bright ochraceous beneath, the belly light creamy yellow, the throat buffy whitish, and the upper parts decidedly fulvous-brown.

NOTE REGARDING THE EARLIEST NAME FOR CARPODACUS HÆMORRHOUS (WAGLER).

BY ROBERT RIDGWAY.

(Read March 8, 1884.)

A reference to plate 386 of Buffon's "Planches Enluminures" shows that figure 1 depicted thereon is intended to represent an adult male of the Mexican House Finch in abnormal plumage, or having the usual red color replaced by yellow-a variation not

* An additional series from New Mexico and Arizona, which, through the courtesy of Mr. H. W. Henshaw, I have recently been permitted to examine, fully confirms the validity of pallescens, none of the twelve specimens showing a nearer approach to fulvifrons than is exhibited by the specimens previously inspected.

uncommon among caged birds of this and allied species, and sometimes seen in wild specimens. This figure is the basis of Fringilla mexicana MÜLLER (Syst. Nat. Suppl., 1776, p. 165), and also of Emberiza mexicana BODD. (Tabl. P. E., 1783, p. 23). This bird must, therefore, be called Carpodacus mexicanus (Müll.), or, should intergradation with C. frontalis be proven, C. frontalis mexicanus (Müll.).

ON SOME HYDROCORALLINE FROM ALASKA AND

CALIFORNIA.

By W. H. DALL.

(Read March 22, 1884.)

The descriptions herewith, with one exception, are of species from an area from which none have hitherto been described.* They are closely allied to species found in the Oregonian and Californian province described by Prof. Verrill, but have been, by his kind assistance, compared with his types, and appear to him and to myself to be distinct species, differing not only in habit and form, as well as relative size of the calyces, but especially in the sculpture and texture of the surface of the corallum. It is quite probable that the other species may hereafter be found in southeastern Alaska, in which case the fauna would comprise

Allopora venusta Verrill; Allopora Verrillii Dall; Allopora californica Verrill; Allopora Moseleyi Dall; Allopora papillosa Dall. To complete the list of Alaskan coralloid animals, Calligorgia compressa of Verrill may be added, as found in the Aleutian Islands, the only representative of the sea-fans yet known from the region, which is, however, extremely rich in Sertularian hydroids.

Allopora Verrillii, n. s.

Cœnosteum thin, reptate, whitish to pale rose pink, solid, encrusting; with a smoothish irregularly lumpy surface pretty regu

*A Stylaster rosso-americanus Brandt has been mentioned (Z. Wiss. Zool., XXII, 292), but has never been described or figured. It may be an additional species.