VIREONID.E — THE YIREOS. 361 



and is thus entitled to a place in our fauna. Its distinction from a closely 

 allied race in Jamaica, Hayti, etc., var. calidris, is shown on page 359. 



A specimen belonging to Mr. Salvin (" No. 187 "), from " Istlimus of Pana- 

 ma," we cannot distinguish satisfactorily from typical examples of the present 

 race, with which it is to be compared, and not with calidris. The colors are 

 quite identical with those of harbatulus. In size it is slightly larger, the 

 wing measuring 3.1^5 instead of 3.15 ; the tail 2.50, instead of 2.35 (from 

 exposed base of feathers) ; the bill is /thicker, being .20 instead of .18 deep ; 

 the third (juill is longest, the second intermediate between it and the fourth ; 

 the first intermediate between the fourth and fifth. In harbaful us the second 

 is longest, the third and fourth successively a little shorter. It is not 

 improbable that other specimens from that locality may show greater differ- 

 ences, as the specimen under examination is in rather worn plumage, and 

 has the tip of the bill broken off. 



Habits. This species only claims a place in our a\ifauna on the ground 

 of its presence in Florida. How abundant it is there is not determined, fur- 

 ther than it has been observed within a restricted locality by Dr. Heermann. 

 This w^as at Charlotte Harbor, on the southwestern coast. They appeared 

 to 1)6 visitors only, from a more southern clime. They reached Florida in 

 tlieir uortliern migrations, remaining only for a short season, but evidently 

 staying long enough to breed. Dr. Heermann states that this species resem- 

 bles, in manners and in appearance, the common Red-eyed Vireo of the 

 more northern States. He descriljes its song as clear and musical, and ^'ery 

 distinctly uttered. It was constantly on tlie search for insects, and appeared 

 even more active than any of the northern species, darting among the foliage, 

 peering into crevices and cobwebs, suspended from branches with its back 

 downward, and occasionally chasing a flying insect in the manner of a true 

 Flycatcher. These movements were usually accompanied by a song. This 

 species was not abundant, though Dr. Heermann saw it frequently, and 

 obtained se^'eral specimens. 



Dr. Bryant found this species very abundant at the Bahamas, arri\ing 

 there about the first of May. All the specimens he obtained were males, 

 the females not arriving there until after the 13th of ]\Iay. The notes of 

 these birds, he states, vary, though the most common one resembles trhi2) 

 torn kelly pheuil, pronouncing the first word distinctly. 

 " This bird,i in Brown's History of Jamaica, is called " Whip-tom-kelly," 

 from the supposed resemblance of its notes to these articulate sounds, and 

 this jDopular appellation has been given it by various other writers. Mr. 

 Gosse, however, in his Birds of Jamaica, calls this bird " John-to-whit," and 

 can find no resemblance in its notes to the words referred to. He describes 

 its song as uttered with incessant iteration and untiring energy, and as 

 resembling Sweet-John ! John to ivhit ! siveet John to vhit ! After July the 



1 The Jamaican bird is V. calidris, not barbatufus. In all probability, liowever, they do not 

 differ in habits and notes. — R. R. 

 46 



