68 BRE^YSTER'S WARBLER. 



bronchialis and laivrencei were dichromatic phases — the foi'iner a leucochroic 

 or white phase of pinus, the latter a xanthochroic or yellow phase of chrysoptera. 



Dr. Bishop in the Auk, 1905, 22, p. 21-24 adopts Ridgway's theory that 

 leucobronchialis is a white color-phase of pinus but sticks to the older belief 

 that lawrencei is a hybrid. 



The old notion that leucobronchialis is a true species has been pretty gen- 

 erally abandoned although it is still held by Messrs. C. J. Maynard and W. E. D. 

 Scott. Mr. Maynard (Birds of Eastern North America, Revised Edition, 1896, 

 p. 577-578, Warblers of New England, 1904, p. 83-88) believes that Brewster's 

 and Lawrence's • Warblers are both species of very recent origin, which have 

 arisen as offshoots from H. chrysoptera. The late Mr. Scott on the other hand 

 (Science, 1905, 22, p. 273-281) thought that the two lately-evolved species had 

 originated as mutants from H. pinus. 



Finally, Dr. C. W. Townsend, in the Auk, 1908, 25, p. 65-68, as an alterna- 

 tive to the theory of the hybrid origin of Brewster's Warbler, suggests the 

 possibility of its being an atavistic phase of the Golden-wing which may perhaps 

 in some cases develop a black throat in the second-winter plumage, like a Red- 

 start (Setophaga ruticilla) . 



I do not see that there is anything left for a new aspirant to honors in 

 guessing unless it be the conjecture that Helminthophila pinus and Helmintho- 

 phila chrysoptera are themselves nothing but southern and northern dichromatic 

 forms of one and the same species! 



The published observations that have any bearing on the status of Brewster's 

 and Lawrence's Warblers fall naturally into two categories : first, direct observa- 

 tions indicating the nuptial alliances of either Brewster's or Lawrence's Warblers, 

 or of the Blue-winged with the Golden-winged Warbler; second, observations of 

 young birds one of whose parents alone was seen but whose plumage nevertheless 

 betokened a mixed parentage. To the first category belong the following: 



1. Chapman, Auk, 1887, 4, p. 348. Englewood, N. J. Leucobronchialis 9, 



shot, June 26, 1887. At the same time and place a pinus cf feeds four 

 young, three of which were shot and proved to be pinus. [These young 

 are well along in their autumn plumage and are certainly pinus. The 

 leucobronchialis was of coui'se probably their mother.] 



2. Eames, Auk, 1888, 5, p. 427. Seymour, Conn. Leucobronchialis cf and 



pinus ( 9 ?) associated together, June 3 et seqq., 1888, the only Helmin- 

 thophilae seen in the locality. 



