OCT., 1909. BIRDS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS CORY. 



239 



garita; but to complicate matters Mr. Lowe procured specimens in 

 January, 1904, which he describes as much paler than birds from the 

 mainland (Ibis, 1907, p. 551). Compared with birds from British 

 Guiana (March) and Caracas, Venezuela (March), the specimens 

 from Margarita (March) are darker and the markings, especially on 

 the under parts are quite different. 



In the six males now before me the breast is plain, bright, rufous 

 chestnut in some and rufous chestnut tinged with vinaceous in others. 

 All the specimens show a black collar, but some have the throat mixed 

 black and rufous, others tawny and white, while one has the throat 

 plain white. On the lower breast and upper belly the feathers are 

 marked with black and white, but the middle portion of the feather 

 is bright rufous chestnut, not dark chestnut, as in Venezuela speci- 

 mens, and the white spots are larger and fewer in number. On the 

 upper parts the back and scapulary feathers show more deep chestnut 

 than birds from British Guiana and Venezuela and the crest is longer 

 and somewhat paler. The Margaritan bird approaches nearer in 

 coloration to E. parvicristatus than to E. sonnini, but the general 

 markings are somewhat different and the crest is longer and paler. 



The differences between the Margaritan bird and E. cristatus 

 (Linn.} from Aruba and Curasao are so pronounced that comparison 

 is not necessary. 



The measurements of eight specimens from Margarita are as 

 follows : 



bill, 



05 



,02 



Family Cracicl?e. 



Ortalis ruficauda Jardine. 



i specimen, 9 , taken March 5, 1909. 



"These birds are common locally throughout the mountainous 

 portion of the island and are found at an altitude where humid con- 

 ditions are met. They are extremely shy." (Ferry.) 



