254 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



Twenty-two specimens: Nueva Gerona, Los Indies, and McKinley. 



The series exhibits considerable variation in the depth and extent 

 of the abdominal tawny ochraceous area (not depending on sex, 

 however), while the amount of white streaking on the throat is 

 another variable character. 



A very common species in the Isle of Pines, taking the place of the 

 Robin in the north, and closely resembling it in general habits. While 

 it is perhaps more partial to the woodland areas than the Robin, it 

 often comes familiarly about the houses and cultivated grounds, and 

 frequently builds its nest in such situations. Mr. Read writes of a 

 pair which built a nest on a rafter in an unfinished house, removing 

 it later to another situation, and Mr. Link saw the same thing happen 

 on one occasion. The nest, too, is like that of the Robin in general 

 appearance, except that it lacks the lining of mud, fibrous roots doing 

 duty instead, and the eggs are laid in April and May. Three or four 

 eggs appear to be the usual complement; they are pale greenish, 

 finely spotted with several shades of brownish. During the nesting- 

 season the males are accustomed to sing in the morning and evening, 

 their song again reminding one of that of the Robin, but being much 

 weaker. At other seasons the birds are nearly silent, merely giving 

 utterance to a sharp note of alarm when disturbed, nor do they come 

 about houses to the same extent. Berries and insects constitute their 

 food, and Mr. Read mentions having seen a lizard fed to the young on 

 one occasion. 



Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii (Cabanis). Olive-backed Thrush. 

 (?) "Olive-backed Thrush" Read, Forest and Stream, LXXIII, 1909, 452 (I. of 



Pines, Jan. 14).— Read, Oologist, XXVI, 1909. 58. and XXVIII, 191 1. 7 (I- of 



Pines; migr.), 113 (West McKinley). 

 (?) Hylocichla ustulata swainsonii Read, Oologist, XXVIII, 191 1, 13 (I- of Pines). 



Mr. Read claims to have observed this species on a few occasions, in October 

 and even in January (!), but as no specimens appear to have been preserved, and 

 the species is not known to migrate through the West Indies, and is merely acci- 

 dental in Cuba, it seems possible that his records are due to misidentifications, 

 which are very easy to make in this group. 



107. Polioptila caerulea caerulea (Linnaeus). Blue-gray Gnat- 

 catcher. 



Culicivora ccerulea PoEY, Mem. Hist. Nat. Cuba, 1854, 427 (Nueva Gerona, fide 

 Gundlach). 



Polioptila carulea Cory, Cat. W. Indian Birds, 1892, 120 (I. of Pines, in geog. 

 distr.). — Gundlach, Orn. Cubana, 1893, 54 (I. of Pines). — Bangs & Zappey. 

 Am. Nat., XXXIX, 1905, 205 (I. of Pines, March; Poey's record). 



