188 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



Miraflores and Santiago Peaks; Agua Caliente). Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. 

 Mus., X. 1885, 356, 357 (descr. ad. male from San Jose del Cabo). A. 0. U., 

 Ciieck List, 1886, 315, no. C82. Coces, Key N. Amer. Birds, 4th ed., 1894, 

 870 (descr. ; Lower Calif.). Bryaxt, Proc. Calif Acad. Sci., 2d ser., IL 

 1889, 20-22 (descr. nest, eggs, and immature plumage from Comondu), 310- 

 312 (quotes Balding as to locality; Comondu; n. to San Ignacio ; descr. 

 song; measurements). Allen, Auk, X. 1803, 142 (tropical type). 



G.[eotM>/})is] beldingi Bryant, Zoe, II. 1891, 192 (San Jose del Cabo). Kidgwat, 

 Man. N. Amer. Birds, 2d ed., 1896, 524 (descr. ; s. portion of Lower Calif.). 



]_Geothlyi)is\ heldingi Dubois, Synop. Avium, fasc. VI. 1901, 437 (Basse-Californie). 



The large series of specimens obtained by Mr. Frazar probably illustrates 

 every stage of plumage througli which this beautiful species regularly passes. 

 Three males, collected in April, agree closely with ]\Ir. Ridgway's de.-cription 

 of the specimens taken by Mr. Belding. A fourth, shot on June 20, at 

 Triuufo, disagrees in having a poorly defined but nevertheless rather con- 

 spicuous yellow band across the fore part of the back. A female, taken on 

 April 21, differs slightly from Mr. Ridgway's type in having a narrow but 

 perfectly distinct yellowish superciliary stripe and a few dusky feathers in 

 the malar region. The five birds jwst meutiuned are all that Mr. Frazar 

 secured in spring. 



Age and seasonal variations : — Yoimg in juvenal plumage. Female (Xo. 

 15,275, San Jo.<e del Cal)0, September 5, 1887). Above dull brownish drab, 

 the wings faintly, the tail distinctly, tinged with olive ; greater and middle 

 wing coverts edged and tipped with rusty, forming obscure wing bands ; below 

 pale brownish buff, deepest on the sides, abdomen, and upper portion of the 

 breast, unmixed with yellow save on the chin, where there are a few bright 

 yellow feathers, evidently those of the first winter plumage ; bend of wing 

 slightly yellowish ; under surface of wing ashy white ; lores with a faint 

 yellowish tinge. 



Another specimen, apparently of about the same age, taken on September 12, 

 is "enerallv similar but rather browner above and on the breast and throat. 

 A young male, obtained on August 23, differs from lioth of the specimens just 

 descriljed in having a few dark olive feathers on the back, a patch of bright 

 yellow on the chin and upper part of the throat, a good many yellow feathers 

 sprinkled over the brea.^t, some black feathers in the lores, and a short black 

 malar stripe. A careful examination of its plumage shows that all these olive, 

 yellow, and black feathers belong to the first winter plumage, which was evi- 

 dentlv just beginning to start when the bird was killed. Some of the feathers 

 of the under parts, which appear to belong to the juvenal plumage, are, how- 

 ever, distinctlv yellowish buff, as in the young bird described l)y Mr. Bryant. 



Adult male in autumn. Differing from the spring male only in having the 

 yellow of the crown paler and tinged with grayish white; the upper parts of a 

 deeper, browner olive, tinged slightly on the occiput and nape with purplish 

 brown ; the yellow of the under parts richer with more decided brownish on 

 the sides and flanks; the base of the lower mandiljle flesh colored ; the remainder 



