22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 79 



86.8; culmen from base, 24.7; tarsus, 25.2 mm. These are the first 

 skins of this fine bird in the National Museum collections. 



This bird is evidently of the same stock as Icterus hairdi of Grand 

 Cayman, which is much lighter yellow, and Icterus leucopteryx of 

 Jamaica, which is decidedly darker. The three would be considered 

 subspecies by some workers, but in the opinion of the junior author 

 they are sufficiently distinct to stand as species. 



It was a great disapj^ointment not to be able to see or hear Icterus 

 hairdi on Grand Cajmian, where we might have come in contact with 

 this species had our limited time not prevented us from going to 

 the extensive wild area to the eastward, which is approached only 

 by poorly defined trails. A few days devoted to this wilderness surely 

 would have brought reward for the extra efforts. 



On St. Andrews, when the clear, alluring notes of Icterus lawrencii 

 come to the ear, it is easy to understand why the step is quickened 

 and the eye more on the alert. The attendant, on hearing the note, 

 said it was made by the "banana bird." He further stated that 

 during the ripening season the species did considerable damage to 

 bananas. At this time of the year none of this fruit was available, 

 so the birds were gleaning their food from among the treetops 

 and taller shrubbery. Besides the two secured, one was seen and 

 another heard. 



HOLOQUISCALUS JAMAICENSIS CAYMANENSIS (Cory) 



Grand Cayman grackle 



Quiscalus caytnanensis Coey, Auk, 1886, p. 499. (Grand Cayman, West 

 Indies.) 



Three males and one female were taken on Grand Cayman, April 

 16, 1929, by Gifford Pinchot and A. K. Fisher. These bear out the 

 characters assigned by Peters in his recent revision of this interesting 

 genus.^** The female has the following measurements : Wing, 117.5 ; 

 tail, 99.0 ; culmen from base, 27.8 ; tarsus, 32.2 mm. Most frequently 

 seen in the open areas bordering the mangroves or in the coconut 

 plantations. 



PIRANGA RUBRA RUBRA (Linnaeus) 



Summer tanager 



Fringilla rubra Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 181. (Virginia 

 or Carolina.) 



A fine adult male of this tanager was seen with other migrants at 

 the edge of a clearing on Swan Island. 



"Auk, 1921, pp. 443, 444. 



