426 XDirni American rirds. 



wel), and on the outer reduced to a narrow liord(.'i'. C. caboii from Cozumel, 

 near the eastern coast of Yucatan, e.xliibits the Cuutiuental impress in pos- 

 sessinii- the cliaracter last mentioned. 



In all the species from the tlreater Antilles and the portion of Continen- 

 tal America west and directly south 

 of I his group, there is a distinct ex- 

 ti rnal white patch at base of cjuills ; 

 \\ hile this disappears in the species of 

 the Lesser Antilles and eastern South 

 America, or is only faintly traceable. 

 Again, in the species of the Lesser 

 Antilles, witii the disappeaiunce of the 

 white wing-patch, tlie greater and mid- 



CeTthiola fiaveola. , , , , /••,!• /• 



illc wnig-coverrs show a taint edging or 

 lighter, by wliicli, as well as by the darker back, they arc distinguished from 

 their Soutli American allies. 



The shape of the white patch at base of llie (piills on the outer weli fur- 

 nislies, in combination with the color of the throat, excellent and permanent 

 specific ciiaracters. This in the Jamaican, Ilaytien, and Baliainan forms is 

 elongated, extending greadnally and uniformly behind to the outer edge of 

 the quill, while in those of Porto IJico, St. Tliomas, Cozumel, and the South 

 American species, where it exists, the posterior outline is nearly transverse, 

 and only running out a little along outer web. 



As a general rule South American species liave sliorter tails than tlie 

 West Indian. 



It is a nice question what are really species in tliis genus, and what merely 

 races or varieties ; but it would proliably l)c not far liom correct to assume 

 that the various forms descrilied are simply iiiodiKcations of one i)riiuitive 

 species, produced by geographical distriliution and external pliysical condi- 

 tions. In the following diagnosis 1 shall treat all the varieties as occu|)ving 

 the .same rank, witliout attempting any di.scrimination. Although but one 

 of tiiese belongs to the United States, and tliat as a straggler from the lialia- 

 nias, I give the table of the whole, to show the interesting relationship be- 

 tween them. 



C0M.M0N CnAB.vcTERs. Above dusky-olive or Vilacki.sli ; the rump olivaceous or 

 yellowish ; the head and eheck.« always black, and sometimes darker tlian back. 

 Chin and throat ashy or black. Rest of under part yellow, duller behind. A 

 broad wliite stripe from bill above eye to nape. A wliile patch at base of pri- 

 maries ; pronerally visible externally, sometimes concealed. Lateral tail-feathers 

 tipped with white. Bill black; legs dusky. 



A. Head uniform in color with rest of upper parts; dark soot3'-bi'o\vn nr blackish. 

 Both webs of outer tail-feather tipped with white texeept in luteohi). All West 

 Indian except lutcola, which, however, occurs in Tobago and Trinidad, and gen- 

 erally belongs to the .shores of the Carribean Sea. 



1. A distinct and conspicuous external white patch at base of primaries. 



Wing-coverts not margined with p.aler. 



