. noble: the resident birds of Guadeloupe. 389 



39. Coereba dominicana (Taylor). 

 Sucrier. 



Common in the cultivated regions. Ten specimens from the plan- 

 tations about Ste. Claude and Ste. Rose. 



I have examined a series of five adults of this species from Guade- 

 loupe, four from Antigua and five from Dominica, and I find a con- 

 siderable variation in both color and size. In adults from the same 

 island the breast and belly varies from yellow-green to bright ochra- 

 ceous while the upper parts differ considerably in their intensities. 

 The specimens from Antigua hAve a constantly shorter tarsus, it 

 averaging 17.2 mm. against 18.2 for those of Guadeloupe and 18.4 

 for those of Dominica. The other measurements are all within the 

 limits of individual variation. 



The white wing-spot does not seem to be a good specific character. 

 In two of the specimens from Antigua, one from Guadeloupe, and two 

 from Dominica this mark is just visible. Upon examining a series of 

 nine adults from St. Croix and another of nineteen adults from 

 Grenada and Grenadines I fail to find that the characters given by 

 Ridgway (Bull. 50, U. S. N. M., 1902, pt. 2, p. 400) in his key hold true. 

 Instead of C. saccharina having a smaller wing-spot than C newtoni, 

 it has in every case at least as large if not a larger one. Again, the 

 superciliary stripes of the latter are not broader than those of the 

 former, rarely, however, they come closer together on the head (2 

 specimens) and spread out so as to touch each other. C. neivtoni may, 

 however, generally be distinguished from C. saccharina by its lighter 

 color, especially on the breast and throat, and again by its shorter 

 tarsus averaging 18.3 mm. (fourteen specimens) against 19.1 for the 

 latter. 



Everywhere in the lowlands and as far up the mountain as the 

 Grand Bois extends, the Honey Creeper is abundant. About the 

 banana plantations I found them in greatest numbers, often nesting 

 in the vicinity of the houses. When examining a flower this species is 

 as acrobatic and agile as a nuthatch, while its undulating flight is 

 much more graceful. The song is a characteristic little wheeze, — 

 Zee ! — Zee ! Because of its great curiosity the Honey Creeper is 

 often killed by the small boys. All the country gamins know how to 

 "squeak up" this little bird into range of their blow-pipes or they can, 

 at least, catch them by means of straws smeared with bird-lime. 



