( 148 ) 



rufons-chestuut brown, and is much smaller. 1). (inroaipilla Hidgw. from (Jriiiid 

 Cayman is ajiiiarcntly only ilistiuguishable by its lighter crown, and perhaiis slightly 

 shorter wing. The differences between D. petechia of Jamaica and D. anrorapilla 

 are extremely slight and apparently not constant, unless the latter is of a somewhat 

 darker oreen above. We have no D. (jumHachi to compare. All these forms arc 

 evidently only of subspecitic value. 



Genus OERTHIUEA tiould. 



Certkiflia, Gould in Proc. Zoo!. Soc. Loud., p. 7 (1837). 



Gould described this genns as belonging to the Fringillidae. Messrs. Sclater 

 and Salvin (cf. Somencl. Ae. Seotrop. j). 10; Trans. Zool. Soc Land. v. IX. p. 4T(i; 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mas. v. XI. p. 27) placed it in the t'oerebidae, subfamily Darnidinae, 

 near Datnis and Conirostrtim; Mr. Ridgway {Proc. U. S. Sat. Mas. v. XIX. \). 407) 

 considers it to belong to the Mniotiltidae. We find it difficnlt to decide between 

 Mniotiltidne and Coerehidae, as we find the bill to agree well with some Dendroicae, 

 and also with some of the smaller forms of Dacnis, while the wing, in which the 

 first primary is considerably shorter than the second and third, agrees more with 

 the Mniotiltidae than with Dacnis. A very close and thorough examination of the 

 anatomy of a good many Mniotiltidae. ( 'oerebidae, and Certhideae will be necessary 

 to decide finally the position of Verthidea and of the value of a number of Passerine 

 families, the division of which is at present a great " crux ornithologiae." 



We have been obliged to unite several of the species recognised by Ridgway in 

 the central group of islands. Ridgway's material was very insufficient. 



1. Certhidea olivacea olivacea Gould. 



Crrlhiiira oth;imi,(io\M in Pruc. Zool. Soc. I.onil. (1837) p. 7, Zool Vny. Bniijh; III. Birds, p. 1(1(1. 

 pi. XLIV.; Sclater, Oil. B. Brit. Mus. XI. p. 28: Ridgway in Pmc. P.S. Xat. .Uiis. XIX. p. 498. 

 Certhitim sah-ini, Ridgway in Proc. U.S. Xat. .Uiis. XVII. p. X,S, XIX. p. .'.(K). 

 Certhidea albemarki, Ridgway in Proc. U.S. Nat. Mns. XTII. p. 3G0, XIX. p. 500. 



In this, as well as in other species of the genus, the perfectly adult birds in full 

 colour (probably the nuptial dress) are as rare as we have found them among the 

 finches. The adult ?nal(' in full dress is as follows :— Upperside pale olive, pileum 

 and hindneck more olive-grey, runij) and upper tail-coverts lighter and more 

 yellowish-brownish ; wings and tail dusky brown, outwardly edged with light olive, 

 inner webs of remiges edged with whitish grey; npper wing-coverts broadly bordered 

 with light reddish brown, under wing-coverts white, strongly washed with buft' and 

 yellowish cinnamon ; short superciliary line, extending to about 4 mm. beyond the 

 eye ; chin, throat, and foreueck bright rufous cinnamon ; remainder of under surface 

 creamy bufi', with an olive tinge ; sides washed with olive brown ; breast with more 

 or less concealed spots of bright rufous cinnamon ; under tail-coverts washed with 

 rufous cinnamon. Wing, o5— 57 mm.; tail, 37— 4(i ; bill, from nostril to tip, 

 7 mm. The adult Jhnale seems to have the wing mostly a little shorter, not 

 exceeding oG mm., mostly 54 to 55 only ; the abdomen paler, more whitish ; 

 and it seems from our large series that the fetnale never assumes such a largely and 

 bright rufous cinnamon area on the throat and foreneck as the adult male, although 

 some of the females have a certain amount of cinnamon colour on the throat. The 

 immature birds of both sexes are much paler, and without a shade of rufous ciunamoii 

 anvwhere. 



