( 400 ) 



Geospiza heliobates llelkr A .Suudyiass. 



Cniiilur lir, I'JUl. p. 'M\ (Maugi'ove swamps of Albemarle and Narborough Islands). 



The atithors of tliis species kindly sent us four cotypes of tbis very interestinif 

 form. ^Vealso received six skins from Messrs. Beck and Green, and found that two 

 specimens from the Harris-Webster expedition (which were the principal foundation 

 of our remark on the striped jiliimatre of (1. pallidn) beh)nir to <i. Iieliohati's. 

 G. hdiolxitcs differs from (i. j/nlliiln, whi(;h also occurs on Albemarle Island, in its 

 smaller size (wings, bill and tarsus remarkably smaller) and in the obvious fact that 

 the breast is striped in the adult birds as well as in the immature ones. 



The measurements given by the authors agree with those of our specimens. 



Geospiza crassirostris (Gould). 



Nwv. ZuoL. VI, Utill, p. KIG. — Pliilijsp'na rvassirostris Eidgw., Birch \oith ib Miilith .\mei-. I, 

 1901, p. 474. 



Mr. Beck and his comj)anions found this sj)ecies common on Chatham Island 

 and fairly numerous on Abingdon, though only in the elevated interior portions of 

 that island, where it inhaliits the green woods and bushes. Several nests were 

 found on both islands. They are similar to those of other Geospi^ar, but generally 

 of somewhat coarser material, with rather large entrance-holes and altogether larger 

 than others, except that of G. strenua. The nests are generally placed higher than 

 those of the smaller species of Geospiza. These birds have various notes, one 

 being very similar to that of the " Red-winged Blaekliird " {AyeAaeus phoeiucens) of 

 California, sounding like " kou-quer-ee." 



Nest No. 764, Chatham Island 13. iii. 1901. In tree near top, 12 ft. high. 

 Built of orchilla moss with dry grass stems. Three fresh eggs, very elongated, 

 thickly covered, especially near tlie thick end, with pale greyish rufous markings. 

 25-6 X 16.8, 25-4 x 16-G mm. (one damaged). 



Nest No. 788, Bindloe 21. iii. lltUl, ? shot. In bush 10 ft. from the 

 ground ; built principally of grass. Three fresh eggs, much rounder and thicker than 

 those of No. 764. Richly marked with rufous brownish and pale purplish grey. 

 2:3-!i X 18-6, 24-7 x 17-8, 24-11 x 17-6 mm. 



Nest No. 802, Abingdon 15. iv. I'.itil, ? (no. !).56) shot and skinned. Nest in 

 a green tree in thick wood, 10 ft. high. Composed of grass with fine twigs and 

 a little orchilla moss. Four fresh eggs. The eggs are large and thick, plentifully 

 marked with pale rufous spots and blotches, which are less numerous and much 

 darker on one. 24 x 17-'.), 24-.J x 18, 24-4 x Is, 23 x 17'.) mm. 



Nest No. 807, Abingdon l.j. iv. liJOl, ? shot and skinned (No. 969). Nest 

 6 ft. high in a tree ; built of small twigs and grass. Two fresh eggs. These are 

 marked like the others, but the markings are darker and bolder than on most of the 

 others. 24 x 17o, 23"5 x 17'6 mm. 



The eggs of G. crassirostrix apjicar to be rather large for the bird. 



Geospiza psittacula psittacula (Gould). 



Nov. Zooi.. VI, 18'J9, p. U\l.—('aiiiiirlii/iirliusp.^,IUi,-iili(>i Ridgw., Birih Xiirth <t Middlr Amer.l, 

 1901, p. 477. — C'lmlmri/wliiis comprisxiroi'tris Ridgw., Birds North it iliilillf Amrr. I, 

 p. 481 — ? — Geoxpisa /ixitliiai/ii tuwimeiidi, Nov. Zodl. VI, p. 107 (Charles Island), 



The reason why we gave rompressirostris as a synouyni of psittacitltt was that 

 we had specimens from other islands, which in their measurements were quite as 



