Todd: The Birds of the Isle of Pines. 229 



(Linnaeus), but general color darker green; the abdominal purplish 

 red patch averaging darker and more extensive; and the throat some- 

 what deeper red. 



Measurements. — Male (ten specimens): wing, 190-196 (average, 

 194); tail, 1 10-122 (116); exposed culmen, 25-28 (26.6); depth of bill, 

 28-31 (29). Female (ten specimens): wing, 184-194 (187); tail, 

 102-119 (113. 5); exposed culmen, 25-27 (26); depth of bill, 27-29 

 (27.6). 



With a series of twenty-four specimens of the Isle of Pines Amazona 

 leucocephala before me I find that they differ sufificiently from the 

 average Cuban bird to bear formal separation. While it is true that 

 there is considerable variation in the extent of the abdominal purplish 

 red patch in both series (possibly dependent on age), the average dif- 

 ference between the two series in this respect is fairly well marked, 

 and taken in connection with the other characters above mentioned 

 is in my judgment sufficient to justify the recognition of the form from 

 the Isle of Pines as distinct. Save that the latter seems to have a slightly 

 longer tail, there is apparently no especial difference in size, so far 

 at least as indicated by the series examined in this connection. 



Numerous individuals in the present fine series show scattered green 

 feathers on the throat and sides of the head, while in others the crown 

 feathers along the posterior line of the white frontal patch are stained 

 with yellow or crimson. A specimen shot July 6 is evidently a young 

 bird in full moult, judging from its small size, differently colored bill, 

 restricted white front, and small amount of red on the rectrices. 

 Another taken September 21 is a very pale bird, in which the tertials 

 are narrowly tipped with crimson, and the abdominal purplish red 

 patch very extensive. 



Judging from reports of the relative numbers annually exported, 

 this parrot is more numerous at the present time in the Isle of Pines 

 than is its relative in Cuba. One dealer in live birds was shipping 

 about twenty-one hundred young parrots from the Isle of Pines in 

 July, 191 2, but in all Cuba had been able to secure only about a 

 thousand birds for this purpose. According to his testimony, they 

 were formerly much more abundant than at present, and of course 

 will continue to decrease indefinitely unless this practice can be 

 checked. So important had the business of trapping parrots become 

 at one time that there grew up in many parts of the island a system 

 of " parrot lines," to define the hunting rights of different individuals. 



