( 385 ) 



there scarcer, with the possible oxccptidii of yn.soiii'Ua iuid yesomimiis. He saw no 

 Certhiilea at Tagns Cove, on Albemarle, nor on the hills above that place, though 

 Green collected it there. Also at Cape Berkeley, where Mr. Beck ascended up to 

 a height of nearly 2000 ft. in search of tortoises, though the vegetation seemed 

 to be fully as suitable as in any of the other islands where these birds were 

 common. Mr. Beck says that perhajis the cats, wliich are common on Albemarle 

 and Charles Islands, have caused the decrease in Certlndeae. This, however, does 

 not agree with the observation that cats as well <as Certhideae are plentiful on 

 Chatham Island ; Irtit Beck found a nest which he believed to be that of a 

 Certliidca 12 ft. higli on that island, while they nest quite low on Albemarle and 

 Charles, and this, Beck thinks, may explain the facts that he observed. 



Certhidea olivacea luteola Ridgw. 



A nest believed to belong to this bird was found on Chatham Island, 

 March I4th, lOOl. It was situated in a thick vine on a tree trunk, 12 ft. above 

 the ground, and is built of dried moss and weed-stems, and ornamented with 

 cotton balls outside. The three eggs are very small, and fully resemble those 

 of C. olicacea fusca. They are white, with a very faint, hardly perceptible shade 

 of green, spotted and speckled with reddish brown. They measure 17x13-4, 

 17x13-3, and 17-oxl3-3 mm. 



This nest is evidently not open at the top, but has a wide lateral opening 

 like the nests of the Geospizae. Unfortunately the evidence is not quite certain, 

 Mr. Beck having queried it himself. 



Certhidea olivacea becki Rothsch. 



Nov. ZooL. VI, 18'.i9, p. 140. 



Mr. Beck, after whom this form is named, sent again specimens from Wenman 

 which agree with the type, and have no olivaceous colour on the throat. 



Certhidea olivacea fusca Scl. & Salv. 



Nov. Zooi.. VI, 1899, p. 151. Kothsch., Ball. B.O. Club XII, p. 46. 



Mr. Beck sent specimens from Bindloe and Abingdon with totally black 

 bills. Probably the black colour of the bill is a sign of the breeding season. 



This bird was nesting on Bindloe Island in the latter part of March and on 

 Abingdon on April Kith. A nest of dry grasses was found in a bush 3 ft. from 

 the ground, containing two fresh eggs; another in a bunch of weeds, H ft. up, 

 near the shore, containing four young birds. The other nests found were nearly 

 all incomplete, and were — according to Beck's notes — similar in construction to 

 those of the smaller Geosjjizae, but less bulky and more round. The two nests 

 sent are much smaller than those of any Geospiza, and have the appearance of 

 being open at the top, while those of Geospiza have always a lateral oixuiing. It 

 is, however, possible that the shape has somewhat been altered during trausit, and 

 that the nests are (juite similar to those of the Geospizae. 



The eggs are three in nundier. They are white, with a foint, hardly perceptible 

 greenish tinge, and marked with pale reddish-brown patches and spots, the 

 markings being more frequent near the thick end, where they form a well-detined 

 ring. Measurements : l«-5 x 15-2, 17-0 x 13-5, 17-4 x 13-3 mm, 



25 



