(582 BULLETIN no, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



of coloration characterizes all western specimens, as far south, at 

 least, as Mazatlan and the Tres Marias Islands; but specimens from 

 the last-named localities are different in other respects, as are also 

 those of the peninsula of Lower California. The latter (61 c. igveus) 

 are much smaller than Arizona specimens, with relatively shorter bills, 

 and the females less highl}^ colored. The Tres Marias birds [C. c. 

 inarla') are in coloration much like those from Lower California, hut 

 are somewhat larger, with decidedl}^ larger ])ill and feet. 



The foregoing, with the small form of northern Sinaloa and southern 

 Sonora {C. c. ajfinis)^ constitute all the geographic forms which we are 

 apparently justihcd in referring to (I cardJnalf's, and it seems, after 

 a careful comparison of large series of specimens, that they are clearly 

 but local modifications of one species, of which the O. coccineus type 

 represents one extreme, the C igiieus type the other extreme, and the 

 O. cardinalis tj'^pe an intermediate series. 



In view of the absence of actual proof of intergradation between 

 these three principal t3"pes, and such really does not exist in the 

 material w hich I have been able to bring together, it may seem expedi- 

 ent to some to consider them as specifically distinct. In such case the 

 forms which are here recognized would stand as follows: 



1. Cardinalis card inaUs. (Grayish capistrum in females.) 



a. Cardinalis cardinalis cardinalis. 

 h. Cardinalis cardinalis canicaudns. 



c. Cardinalis cardinalis floridanns. 



2. Cardinalis coccineus. (Black capistrum in females.) 



a. Cardinalis coccineus coccineus. 

 }>. Cardinalis coccineus littoralis. 

 r. Cardinalis coccineus yncatanicus. 



d. Cardinalis coccineus saturatus. 



3. Cardinalis igneus. (Whitish capistrum in females.) 



((. Cardinalis igneus igneus. 

 h. Cardinalis igneus affinis. 

 r. Cardinalis igneus sinaloensis. 

 (7. Cardinalis igneus marine. 



e. Cardinalis igneus superl)us. 



There remains to be considered but a single form, peculiar to the 

 coast district of southwestern Mexico, in the States of Guerrero and 

 Oaxaca, in the latter almost touching the southern range of O. cardi- 

 nalis coccineus. This bird {C. carneus) is a))out the smallest of all the 

 North American Cardinals, from all others of which it differs in the 

 form of the bill, the maxilla being relatively more shallow and with 

 less sinuated tomia, and the feathers of the crest much longer as 

 well as stiff'er. In coloration the male much resembles the other 

 Cardinals of southern Mexico, but the rump is a much lighter red, 

 while the female is without any red on the outer webs of the primaries, 

 which in the females of all the foi'uis of C. carduialls are distinctly 

 reddish. In all these divergences fi-om C. cardinalis (as a whoh^) C. 



